Lyme Spirochetes in Ticks

J Med Entomol. 2003 Jul;40(4):555-8.

Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae) in Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) adults in New Jersey, 2000-2001.

Schulze TL1, Jordan RA, Hung RW, Puelle RS, Markowski D, Chomsky MS.

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Abstract

Using polymerase chain reaction, we analyzed 529 Ixodes scapularis Say adults collected from 16 of New Jersey's 21 counties for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiological agent of Lyme disease.

Overall, 261 (49.3%) were positive. B. burgdorferi was detected in ticks obtained from each county and from 53 of the 58 (93.1%) municipalities surveyed. The observed statewide prevalence in New Jersey is similar to those reported from other northeastern and mid-Atlantic states.

PMID: 14680126 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]