Different drivers, same tick: Effect of host traits, habitat, and climate on the infestation of three rodent species by larval Dermacentor ticks

Abstract

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) pose a growing concern for public and wildlife health. Understanding how host traits and environmental factors influence tick infestation in small mammals is critical for improving TBD management strategies. We investigated the presence and load of Dermacentor spp. Larvae on three rodent species: Peromyscus leucopus, Sigmodon hispidus, and Onychomys leucogaster, in the arid brushland ecosystem of South Texas. We used generalized linear models to quantify how host, habitat structure, and climatic variables impact tick presence and load. Our results show that different drivers influenced tick infestation across species; O. leucogaster experienced higher tick loads in smaller individuals and habitats with more leaf litter, whereas for P. leucopus, infestation was determined by the reproductive state and sex of the host as well as larval activity throughout the year. None of the variables measured in this study adequately explained the presence and parasite load in S. hispidus. These findings highlight the importance of considering species-specific interactions between host traits and environmental factors for understanding the dynamics of ticks infestation in rodents. Our results contribute to a growing body of evidence on the complexity of tick-rodent host dynamics and offer insights for predicting changes in parasitism patterns and managing wildlife health in response to a changing environment in South Texas.