High burdens of Ixodes scapularis larval ticks on white-tailed deer may limit Lyme disease risk in a low biodiversity setting

Lyme disease, recognized as one of the most important vector-borne diseases worldwide, has been increasing in incidence and spatial extend in United States. In the Northeast and Upper Midwest, Lyme disease is transmitted by Ixodes scapularis. Currently, many studies have been conducted to identify factors influencing Lyme disease risk in the Northeast, however, relatively few studies focused on the Upper Midwest. In this study, we explored and compared the climatic and landscape factors that shape the spatial patterns of human Lyme cases in these two regions, using the generalized linear mixed models. Our results showed that climatic variables generally had opposite correlations with Lyme disease risk, while landscape factors usually had similar effects in these two regions. High precipitation and low temperature were correlated with high Lyme disease risk in the Upper Midwest, while with low Lyme disease risk in the Northeast. In both regions, size and fragmentation related factors of residential area showed positive correlations with Lyme disease risk. Deciduous forests and evergreen forests had opposite effects on Lyme disease risk, but the effects were consistent between two regions. In general, this study provides new insight into understanding the differences of risk factors of human Lyme disease risk in these two regions.

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Reduced Abundance of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) and Lyme Disease Risk by Deer Exclusion

Journal of Medical Entomology ◽

10.1093/jmedent/30.6.1043 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 30 (6) ◽

pp. 1043-1049 ◽

Cited By ~ 62

Author(s):

Thomas J. Daniels ◽

Durland Fish ◽

Ira Schwartz

Keyword(s):

Lyme Disease ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Ixodes Scapularis ◽

Lyme Disease Risk

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Identification ofBorrelia bissettiiinIxodes scapularisticks from New Brunswick, Canada

Canadian Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.1139/cjm-2018-0376 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 65 (2) ◽

pp. 155-161

Author(s):

Julie Lewis ◽

Vett K. Lloyd

Keyword(s):

Lyme Disease ◽

New Brunswick ◽

Diagnostic Tests ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Ixodes Scapularis ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Sensu Stricto ◽

Tick Borne Disease ◽

Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Stricto ◽

Lyme Disease Risk

Lyme disease is a tick-borne disease that is emerging in Canada. The disease is caused by spirochetes of the Lyme borreliosis group, which is expanding as new species are discovered. In Canada, Lyme disease risk has so far been assessed primarily by detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto. Of Ixodes scapularis ticks collected between 2014 and 2016 in New Brunswick, Canada, 7 were shown to be infected with Borrelia bissettii by nested PCR and sequencing of 5 B. bissettii genes. Since different Borrelia species are associated with different clinical manifestations and are not detected with the same diagnostic tests, the identification of a previously undocumented or underreported pathogenic Borrelia species has important implications for public and veterinary medicine.

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