title: Borrelia burgdorferi in a focus of Lyme borreliosis: epizootiologic contribution of small mammals.
abstract: The contribution of woodmice (Apodemus sylvaticus), yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis) and bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) was compared in a focus of Lyme borreliosis in Switzerland during a 7 months' study. All three species of mice and one species of shrews (Sorex araneus) were shown parasitized by infected Ixodes ricinus immatures. About 14% of larvae and 50% of nymphs collected on small mammals were infected with B. burgdorferi. Spirochetes were isolated from blood of 3 woodmice and one yellow-necked mouse. The infectious status of rodents was estimated by tick xenodiagnosis. Prevalence of infected rodents ranged from 20% to 44%. Mice presented a higher potential infectivity than voles. The prevalence of infected rodents showed a seasonal variation.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Zoologie, Neuchatel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Humair
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Turrian
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aeschilimann
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gern
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D001717:Birds; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000635:transmission; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D012377:Rodentia; D012621:Seasons; D012788:Shrews / Q000469:parasitology*; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013987:Ticks / Q000469:parasitology