Ruffed grouse do not exhibit high potential for reservoir competency of common tick-borne pathogens

Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) are ground-dwelling forest birds found throughout New Brunswick, and likely act as an alternative host for blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis), which are vectors for Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Other Galliformes are parasitized by Ixodes spp. and some are competent reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens. Thus, we sought to identify ruffed grouse as an alternative host of blacklegged ticks by testing for active and previous infections of tick-borne pathogens. We tested 215 ruffed grouse hearts for active infection of B. burgdorferi and tested 20 blood samples for antibodies associated with previous B. burgdorferi infections. We failed to detect active, or evidence of previous, B. burgdorferi infections in either sample type. We suggest that our results were limited by the methods of pathogen testing and thus, alternative methods should be investigated.

Automated summary

The ruffed grouse may act as an alternative host for blacklegged ticks, which are vectors for Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. However, testing for active and previous infections of tick-borne pathogens in ruffed grouse did not yield positive results. Alternative methods should be explored to further investigate this relationship.