Orally delivered tick-control treatment for deer and small rodents to reduce Lyme disease risks
Official title: Suppression of Host-Seeking Ixodes scapularis Abundances and Interruption of Pathogen Transmission Through Orally Delivered Systemic Acaricide Treatment of White-tailed Deer and Peromyscus spp.
Funded at Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Sta · NIH-11509998 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study will test giving existing acaricides through oral baits to deer and small rodents to lower tick numbers and reduce pathogen transmission.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Sta NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,000,000 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CK000665-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11509998 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are communities and environments with high tick exposure where deer and small mammals play a key role in tick life cycles.
✕Less likely to help
Public health benefit may be limited in areas without these tick-host dynamics or where deer/mammal hosts are not present.
What this research studies
Researchers will apply commercially available acaricides to host animals (deer and Peromyscus mice) by coating food or using targeted dosing. The approach aims to decrease the number of host-seeking Ixodes scapularis ticks that carry human pathogens, in several locations with different mammal communities. The team will develop standardized procedures so homeowners or vector-control pros could implement this strategy in communities at risk for Lyme disease. This work involves field testing, efficacy assessment, and protocol creation to support practical, real-world use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, communities could see fewer Lyme disease-carrying ticks and lower human exposure.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that host-targeted tick control can reduce tick abundance in some settings, but this study tests a systematic, field-based implementation.
Where this research is happening
-
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Sta
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Williams, Scott C. — Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Sta
- Study coordinator: Williams, Scott C.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.