Table 2 Factors discussed as potential contributors to seroprevalence of metastriate tick-borne pathogens among dogs in the USA
Vector factors | |
|---|---|
| Â | Biology |
|  |  Competence (different transmission scenarios) |
|  |  Host preference |
| Â | Persistence and interhost transfer of male ticks |
| Â | Host seeking behavior (hunt, ambush) |
| Â | Population dynamics |
|  |  Distribution (established, intermittent or absent) |
|  |  Relative abundance (species and stages) |
| Â | Seasonality |
|  |  Different stages |
|  |  Stage overlap |
Host factors | |
| Â | Principal host(s) of different tick stages |
|  |  Susceptibility to pathogen |
|  |  Distribution |
|  |  Density-Dynamic |
| Â | Ecologic diversity (dilution effect) |
|  |  Shannon-Weaver Index |
|  |  Tick-permissive, non-reservoir hosts |
| Â | Behavior |
|  |  Host grooming |
|  |  Gregariousness |
|  |  Host species |
| Â | Home Range |
|  |  Migration, dispersal |
|  |  Anthropogenic translocation |
| Â | Hosts permissive for pathogen |
|  |  Persistence in reservoir |
|  |  Prevalence of infection |
|  |  Density |
|  |  Other transmission routes |
|  |  Life cycle/age distribution |
|  |  Immune response |
|  |  Amplification vs. reservoir |
| Â | Domestic |
|  |  Indoor/outdoor |
|  |  Rural/urban |
|  |  Relocation |
| Â | Sylvatic vs. Suburban |
|  |  Opportunistic or natural infection |
Abiotic factors | |
| Â | Humidity |
|  |  Maximum, minimum and average |
| Â | Temperature |
|  |  Maximum, minimum and average |
|  |  Degree-day |
|  |  Soil temperature |
| Â | Photoperiod |
| Â | Seasonal precipitation |
|  |  El Niño effect |
|  |  Snow and other ground cover |
| Â | Catastrophic disturbance |
|  |  Fire |
|  |  Hurricane |
| Â | Wind |
| Â | Altitude |
Habitat factors | |
| Â | Macrohabitat |
|  |  Vegetation (density, type and fragmentation) |
|  |  Elevation |
|  |  Location of water sources |
|  |  Rainfall |
| Â | Microhabitat |
|  |  Soil type |
|  |  LIDAR data |
| Â | Land use |
Social factors | |
| Â | Land use |
| Â | Indoor versus outdoor dogs |
| Â | Dog use (e.g., hunting) |
| Â | Canine husbandry |
| Â | Use of tick preventives |
| Â | Nuisance permits |
| Â | Housekeeping |
| Â | Animal welfare violations |
| Â | Socioeconomics |
|  |  Average household income |
|  |  Human population |
|  |  Large-scale economic factors |
| Â | Recreation |
|  |  Hunting |
|  |  Parks (rural and urban) |
| Â | Pets per household |