Landscape ecology of the deer tick and its associated Lyme disease pathogen

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Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is carried by a range of vertebrate reservoir hosts and transmitted to people and animals by infected tick vectors. In Canada, the incidence of Lyme disease is increasing rapidly in association with the northward range expansion of the deer tick (Ixodes scapularis). Despite the growing importance of Lyme disease in many parts of Canada, many aspects of Lyme disease ecology remain unclear, especially in areas of recent introduction. This includes knowledge on the geographic distribution of the tick and pathogen, the importance of different species as hosts for ticks and Lyme disease, and the pathways of tick and pathogen spread at the landscape scale. This research aims to: 1) determine the host range and prevalence of B. burgdorferi in free-ranging mammals and ticks through field studies; 2) understand the ecological determinants of reservoir host, vector and pathogen niche through ecological modelling; 3) characterize the genetic diversity of reservoir hosts, vectors and pathogens through molecular studies; and, 4) investigate potential pathways of tick and Lyme disease spread using population and landscape genetics. My proposed research combines field studies of reservoir hosts and tick vectors, molecular and genetic characterization of reservoir hosts, vectors and pathogens, and spatial and statistical modelling in order to better understand Lyme disease ecology and spread in peri-urban environments situated at the northern range front of deer tick invasion. These studies will increase our understanding of the involvement of small mammal reservoir hosts and tick vectors in B. burgdorferi transmission and spread, and reveal how Lyme disease transmission patterns are affected by environmental factors. Furthermore, these studies will identify factors associated with the spread of deer ticks and B. burgdorferi in a region of recent Lyme disease introduction. Notably, this research will help to inform vector-borne disease surveillance and control strategies, which will ultimately reduce disease spread and prevent infections in domestic animals and humans. **