ISSN 1362-1971
An international journal of the Systematic and Applied Acarology Society, published since 1996
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ISSN 1362-1971 An international journal of the Systematic and Applied Acarology Society, published since 1996 [Aims] [Editors] [Content] [Subscriptions] [Contact details] [Society Homepage] |
Systematic & Applied Acarology (2002) 7, 15-22Ability of Ixodes persulcatus, Haemaphysalis concinna and Dermacentor silvarum to acquire and transstadially transmit the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia garinii
YI SUN, RONGMAN XU, TIANYU GUO, PANHE ZHANG & WUCHUN CAO
Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology of Beijing, Beijing, P. R. China, 100071
Abstract
To determine the principal vectors of Lyme disease in North China, the capability of I. persulcatus, H. concinna
and D. silvarum to transmit Lyme spirochetes transstadially was estimated under laboratory conditions. Results
suggest that all three tick species can acquire active Lyme spirochetes by feeding on infected KM mice.
However, the three species vary in their ability to maintain spirochetes. Only I. persulcatus can maintain active
spirochetes during molting, with subsequent tick stages infectious to innocent KM mice. Haemaphysalis
concinna and D. silvarum maintain spirochetes no longer than the digestion period of blood; after molting, no
spirochetes were detected in these two tick species. Therefore, I. persulcatus should be considered the principal
vector of Lyme disease in North China. The presence of spirochetes in H. concinna and D. silvarum may be
tied to co-feeding with I. persulcatus.
Key words: Lyme disease, transstadial transmission, laboratory host, tick, H. concinna, D. silvarum
Copyright 1999-2002 Systematic and Applied Acarology Society
Last updated 15 Jul. 2002
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