Burrow boarders: Mapping woodchuck (Marmota monax) ectoparasites within our shared health ecosystem

Groundhogs (Marmota monax), also known as woodchucks, potentially serve as important reservoir hosts for ectoparasites that transmit pathogens across species boundaries. Yet, their parasite communities remain poorly characterized despite their often peridomestic habitat. Climate change and habitat encroachment make understanding these host-parasite dynamics increasingly critical for public health. The emergence of invasive ticks like Haemaphysalis longicornis further necessitates surveillance of potential mammalian hosts. The objectives were to (1) characterize ectoparasite diversity on Pennsylvania groundhogs; (2) determine vector-borne pathogen prevalence; and (3) explore associations between host microbiome and parasite burden. Groundhogs were trapped in Centre County (May-August 2025), collecting blood, serum, and microbiome samples while documenting ectoparasites through standardized protocols. The composition, abundance, and distribution of ectoparasite communities found on groundhogs, with emphasis on tick species of medical and veterinary importance, will be discussed and the spatial and temporal patterns of infestation and host factors influencing parasite loads will be highlighted. This research addresses critical knowledge gaps regarding groundhogs as hosts for ectoparasites of public health significance, illuminating interactions between wildlife, parasites, and microbiomes that influence disease transmission. Our findings contribute essential information for surveillance programs and intervention strategies to mitigate vector-borne disease threats.