Hopeful Strategy For Reducing The Spread Of Lyme
A device called the “4-poster” Deer Treatment Bait Station,” developed and patented by scientists with the Agricultural Research Service, was highly effective at reducing the number of ticks infected with the Lyme disease bacterium in a six-year USDA study in five Northeastern states – Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island – where the disease is endemic.
If the 4-poster is used in areas where the disease is endemic, this should translate to a corresponding 71 percent decrease in Lyme disease cases, according to Durland Fish, a professor of epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health and principal investigator for the project.
The effectiveness of the 4-poster ranged from 60 to 82 percent among the seven individual 2-square-mile study sites. The device is a bin that contains corn, with insecticide-laden paint rollers mounted at the bin’s corners.
When a deer – the primary carrier of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, which carries the Lyme disease bacterium – inserts its muzzle into the bin to feed, it must rub its head, neck and ears against the insecticide-treated rollers.
When the deer subsequently grooms itself, the insecticide is spread enough to protect the animal’s entire body.
Developed by ARS scientists at the agency’s Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory in Kerrville, Texas, the 4-poster’s efficacy could be boosted to more than 90 percent by using newer, more effective insecticides that were not available at the start of the USDA study, according to J. Mathews Pound, an entomologist at the Kerrville laboratory and a co-investigator on the study.
Dr. Christopher Sun wrote recently about signs that have been posted in South Bay in Southern California! He wrote:
“Although the risk of infection is small in the South Bay, the potential consequences from Lyme disease (and other tick-borne diseases) are high. So it’s always wise to take precautions against tick bites, to protect yourself from a number of serious diseases. The ticks that carry Lyme disease are so tiny that you probably won’t even feel them or know you’ve been bitten, so you want to prevent their ability to bite you. Lyme disease can be very difficult to diagnose (tests are not as reliable as we’d like). Delayed diagnosis or inadequate treatment can lead to serious brain, heart and joint problems. For more information, see the brochure from the California Department of Public Health.
The Californians should be an example to us and inspire those of us physically strong enough to post some signs in our neighborhoods. Education can be the difference between life and death.
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August 16th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
This is a different way to get treated. I have never heard of this before..! If 4-poster can reduce lyme diseases , then there is nothing harm in going for it..!
January 6th, 2010 at 12:10 am
We have quail in our garden and it seems that they are insect eaters. I believe that we have fewer ticks here even though the deer consider our garden to be a buffet. I wonder if we stopped feeding the birds in general if this would help control the population too. Actually if we don’t feed the birds there will be fewer rodents too as I am sure most feeders do duel purpose.
Also installing houses for birds that eat insects or rodents could help too. I understand that barn owls and kestrels are great rodent hunters to house. One feeds at night and the other in the day.
December 12th, 2011 at 9:05 am
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