Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens in Recreational Greenspaces in North Central Florida, USA.

ABSTRACT: Tick-borne infections are an increasing medical and veterinary concern in the southeastern United States, but there is limited understanding of how recreational greenspaces influence the hazard of pathogen transmission. This study aimed to estimate the potential human and companion animal encounter risk with different questing tick species, and the bacterial or protozoal agents they carry in recreational greenspaces. We collected ticks bimonthly along trails and designated recreational areas in 17 publicly accessible greenspaces, in and around Gainesville, Florida, USA. We collected Amblyomma americanum, Ixodes scapularis, Amblyomma maculatum, Dermacentor variabilis, Ixodes affinis, and Haemaphysalis leporispalustris. Across the six tick species co

SUBMITTER: Bhosale CR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10057063 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature