Ecology and Epidemiology of Lyme Disease in Western North America

Abstract

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States and Canada. The causative agent of Lyme disease in North America is the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. In western North America, the primary vector of Borrelia burgdorferi is the western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus. Surveillance and modelling efforts indicate that I. pacificus is primarily found in coastal California, Oregon, Washington and the southern coastal regions of British Columbia However, infection rates with B. burgdorferi among I. pacificus ticks remain low, ranging from 0.6% to 9.9%. Lyme disease case numbers in western North America are also relatively low compared to eastern North America. Enzootic maintenance of B. burgdorferi by hosts in natural environments and climatic factors may influence Lyme disease risk. The borreliacidal western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis, may contribute to the low infection rates observed in I. pacificus ticks, while the migratory nature of avian hosts can allow for long-distance tick dispersal. Moderately warm and moist environments and protection from sunlight define the suitable habitats of I. pacificus ticks. In this review, we discuss the ecology and epidemiology of Lyme disease in relation to I. pacificus, as well as the need for more studies in western North America.

"The Expanding Spectrum of Ixodes Tick-Borne Diseases: Insights, Challenges, and Innovations"

“…Lyme disease is highly prevalent in the US. According to recent research, almost 4,760,000 Americans are treated and diagnosed with Lyme disease annually [9]. This number involves patients generally treated based on clinical suspicion of Lyme disease [8,9].…”

“…According to recent research, almost 4,760,000 Americans are treated and diagnosed with Lyme disease annually [9]. This number involves patients generally treated based on clinical suspicion of Lyme disease [8,9]. Lyme disease is not just a random occurrence; it is mainly caused by bacteria known as B. burgdorferi.…”

“…Moreover, infected deer ticks in Asia range from Japan, China, and Mongolia to western Russia. Furthermore, some of the highly endemic regions in North America include North-Central and Northeastern US [8,9].…”