Comparative vector competence of North American Lyme disease vectors.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Understanding the drivers of Lyme disease incidence at broad spatial scales is critical for predicting and mitigating human disease risk. Previous studies have identified vector phenology and behavior, host community composition, and landscape features as drivers of variable Lyme disease risk. However, while the Lyme disease transmission cycles in the eastern and western USA involve different vector species (Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus, respectively), the role of vector-specific differences in transmission efficiency has not been directly examined. By comparing the performance of traits involved in vector competence between these two species, this study aims to identify how vector competence contributes to variable Lyme disease risk. METHODS:We used a suite of laborat

SUBMITTER: Couper LI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6961398 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature