HEREDITARY TRANSMISSION OF THE WESTERN TYPE OF EQUINE ENCEPHALOMYELITIS VIRUS IN THE WOOD TICK, DERMACENTOR ANDERSONI STILES

The Western type of equine encephalomyelitis virus can be passed as an hereditary infection in a tick of the family Ixodidae, Dermacentor andersoni Stiles. Under experimental conditions, this virus has been carried in this tick for two successive generations, possibly for a third, passing certainly once, and possibly twice, from the female through the eggs to the larvae. The virus-carrying larval, nymphal, and adult stages of this tick, furthermore, are capable of infecting susceptible hosts when they are permitted to feed on them.