title: [The prevalence of Ixodes ricinus ticks (Acari, Ixodidae) in the forested areas of Gdansk, Sopot, and Gdynia and their infection rate with Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes].
abstract: Data are presented on the variable patterns on the seasonal activity of Ixodes ricinus questing on vegetation in 6 study sites in the forested areas of Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia in 1993-1995. A total of 8992 specimens collected there show that ticks frequently occupy habitats closely associated with man. Out of them 5775 (4328 nymphs, 713 females and 680 males) collected in 1994 and 1995 were examined individually for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato-the etiologic agent of Lyme borreliosis-using in-direct immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Spirochetes were detected in 577 (10.3%) of the ticks tested. The overall infection rate was 8.2% for nymphs (n = 353), 14.9% for females (n = 102) and 18.9% for males (n = 122). The infection rates in particular study sites varied between 1.4% and 16.4% in 1994 and between 3.6% and 26.9% in 1995. The highest prevalence of B. burgdorferi was observed in June (10%) and October (11.9%) in 1994 and in August (16.3%) and October (25%) in 1995. Detection of B. burgdorferi in ticks derived from the same area in the two following years shows that the infection of the I. ricinus population with this pathogen in the forested areas of Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia is permanent.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Parazytologii Tropikalnej, Instytut Medycyny Morskiej i Tropikalnej w Gdyni.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wegner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Racewicz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kubica-Biernat
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kruminis-Lozowska
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stańczak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D018884:Ixodes; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D014197:Trees