Monday, June 23, 2003
Look what I found.... ---cool
The Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in White-Footed Mice, Peromyscus leucopus, and Deer Ticks, Ixodes scapularis, at Pine Lake in West Davenport, New York.
SARA BICKER, Department of Biology, Hartwick College, NY 13820.
Lyme disease is a zoonosis, an inadvertent infection of humans with an animal pathogen, and is the most common arthropod vector-borne disease in the United States. The pathogen, Borrelia burgdorferi, is transmitted from ticks to humans during blood meals. Little is known about the presence or existence of the Lyme disease spirochete and its arthropod vector, Ixodes scapularis, at Pine Lake in West Davenport, New York. The objective of this research was to determine the infection rate of deer ticks and their most competent host, white-footed mice, with the Lyme disease causative bacteria. Ticks and blood samples were collected from white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus trapped at Pine Lake. Host seeking ticks were quested by dragging vegetation. To analyze the presence of the B. burgdorferi spirochete in ticks and animal sera, direct immunofluorescence microscopy and ELISA were used respectively. Lyme disease is a growing concern to the general public, especially to those people who are active outside during the summer and fall months. Many students, faculty, and staff use Pine Lake, and should be informed of possible health risks, such as Lyme disease. Faculty supervisor: Dr. Mary Allen. ¶ 6/23/2003 12:35:00 PM
The Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in White-Footed Mice, Peromyscus leucopus, and Deer Ticks, Ixodes scapularis, at Pine Lake in West Davenport, New York.
SARA BICKER, Department of Biology, Hartwick College, NY 13820.
Lyme disease is a zoonosis, an inadvertent infection of humans with an animal pathogen, and is the most common arthropod vector-borne disease in the United States. The pathogen, Borrelia burgdorferi, is transmitted from ticks to humans during blood meals. Little is known about the presence or existence of the Lyme disease spirochete and its arthropod vector, Ixodes scapularis, at Pine Lake in West Davenport, New York. The objective of this research was to determine the infection rate of deer ticks and their most competent host, white-footed mice, with the Lyme disease causative bacteria. Ticks and blood samples were collected from white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus trapped at Pine Lake. Host seeking ticks were quested by dragging vegetation. To analyze the presence of the B. burgdorferi spirochete in ticks and animal sera, direct immunofluorescence microscopy and ELISA were used respectively. Lyme disease is a growing concern to the general public, especially to those people who are active outside during the summer and fall months. Many students, faculty, and staff use Pine Lake, and should be informed of possible health risks, such as Lyme disease. Faculty supervisor: Dr. Mary Allen. ¶ 6/23/2003 12:35:00 PM
