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SEASONAL VARIATION OF TRANSMISSION RISK OF LYME DISEASE AND HUMAN BABESIOSIS

DOI

133

Citations

0

References

1987

Year

Joseph Piesman, Thomas N. Mather, Gustave J. Dammin, Sam R. Telford, Catherine C. Lastavica, Andrew Spielman
American Journal of Epidemiology

Abstract

The seasonal host-seeking pattern of nymphal Ixodes dammini infected with Babesia microti or Borrelia burgdorferi was determined on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, during 1985. The peak period of host-seeking by infected nymphal I. dammini occurred in May and June. On a per person-hour basis, the number of infected ticks collected reached a maximum in May (Babesia = 17.3; Borrelia = 16.2). The number of infected ticks remained high in June, but decreased notably in July, August, and September. Transmission risk of the tick-borne etiologic agents of Lyme disease and human babesiosis in Massachusetts is greatest during the late spring-early summer months of May and June.