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Ticks transmit several arthropod-borne pathogens in New York State. The primary human-biting ticks in this region are Ixodes scapularis, Amblyomma americanum, and Dermacentor variabilis. Body regions where tick bites human vary depending on the tick species and life stage, and clothing worn by the host. A community tick submission system was used to acquire information about bite-site location prior to pathogen testing to understand species and life stage-specific body-segment preferences. These data resulted in the identification of species-specific preferences for location, with D. variabilis preferentially biting the head and neck and A. americanum preferring the thighs, groin, and abdomen. Ixodes scapularis was found across the body, although it showed a significant life stage difference with adults preferring the head, midsection, and groin, while nymphs/larvae preferred the extremities. Infection with Borrelia burgdorferi resulted in a significant change in attachment site. This provides an assessment of which body region ticks of the most common species in New York are likely to be found.

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Introduction: Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have been developed with unprecedented speed. The phased introduction of vaccines may be serving to offset the impact of new viral variants and policy relaxation. In order to assess the impact of vaccination, we examined a snapshot of vaccination rates across counties in a single state, at a single time point, comparing them with population-adjusted case counts. Methods: We calculated descriptive statistics and bivariate correlations for vaccination rates and cases across counties in New York State (NYS). We conducted a linear regression using cases/100K population per NYS county, frozen at a single snapshot in time, as the outcome variable, predicted by percentage of each county’s population (completed series/two doses), controlling for county population. Results: Percentages with one dose and with two doses were highly correlated (r=.935, P<.001) with one another. Both the one dose and two dose z rates were negatively correlated with cases per 100K population (not significant). Population size was strongly correlated with cases per 100K (r=.715, P<.001). The two-dose vaccination rate was a significant negative predictor of cases per 100K population in NYS counties (β= -.866, P=.031), with each percentage point of completed vaccination nearly equating to one case less in the daily count when controlling for county population size (β =2.732, P<.001). Conclusion: While variants may impact vaccine effectiveness, current vaccination efforts are helping forestall some cases in NYS. Widespread vaccination is still an important goal. Primary care providers, public officials, and public health scientists should continue to urgently promote and support vaccination efforts.