Entomological correlates of Babesia microti prevalence in an area where Ixodes scapularis (Acari:Ixodidae) is endemic.
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.
Mather
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TN
Center for Vector-Borne Disease, University of Rhode Island, Kingston 02881-0804, USA.
Nicholson
M C
MC
Hu
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R
Miller
N J
NJ
D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018884:Ixodes; D010542:Peromyscus / Q000469:parasitology