Which two serious agents is Dermacentor andersoni best known for transmitting?
Answer
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever bacterium and Colorado Tick Fever virus
The Rocky Mountain Wood Tick, *Dermacentor andersoni*, is specifically noted for its significant public health role due to its competency in transmitting two distinct, serious agents. These include the bacterium responsible for causing Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and the virus responsible for causing Colorado Tick Fever. The ability of this single hard tick species to effectively acquire, retain, and transmit both bacterial and viral pathogens illustrates a high degree of evolutionary adaptation in its vector competence capabilities.

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