Title

Entomological Correlates of Babesia microti Prevalence in an Area Where Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) Is Endemic

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

1-1-1996

Abstract

Zoonotic prevalence of Babesia microti Franca piroplasms infecting white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus Rafinesque, was determined at 34 sites in Rhode Island where nymphal blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, densities ranged from low to hyperabundant (1.7-525.3 nymphs per hour of flagging). Babesia was only detected at sites where tick abundance was moderate to high (>20 nymphs per hour of flagging) and appeared to exhibit a clumped distribution. Where B. microti was detected, the mean number of nymphal ticks collected per hour of flagging was 229.2 compared with a mean of 40.1 at sites where Babesia was not detected. By combining the spatial occurrence of Babesia with a tick density database in a geographic information system, it may be possible to predict the pattern of zoonotic and human infection with B. microti.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Journal of Medical Entomology

Volume

33

Issue

5

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