Influence of tick age and land-use on Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in Ixodes ricinus ticks from the Swabian Alb, Germany.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In Europe, Ixodes ricinus ticks transmit various zoonotic pathogens, including Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis (LB). However, the relationship between Borrelia prevalence, bacterial load in unfed nymphs of different physiological ages, and the influence of season and land-use remains poorly understood. The B. burgdorferi s.l. complex exhibits significant genetic diversity, with genospecies varying in distribution and pathogenicity. This study aimed to examine physiological tick age in relation to land-use, Borrelia infection rates, and genetic diversity. Furthermore, small and large mammal diversity as well as environmental factors such as shrub cover and tree species richness were incorporated in the analyses.

Methods</

SUBMITTER: Weilage S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12445037 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature