Entomologic Index for Human Risk of Lyme Disease

Mather, Thomas N.; Nicholson, Matthew C.; Donnelly, Edward F.; Mátyás, Béla T.

doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a008879

Cited by 171 publications

(130 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…For example, a study that measured DIN in forested areas in six Rhode Island towns found that DIN explained 97% of the variation in incidence among those towns. 9 However, most of our study sites were not located in residential areas, and the incidence data corresponded to a much broader range relative to the acarological data, which increases the variance in the relationship between mDIN and incidence. Last, geographical differences in Lyme disease control efforts at the residential or personal level could also contribute to variation in the relationship between mDIN and human incidence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Three previous studies have shown a positive relationship between human cases and the density of B. burgdorferi-infected ticks, but these studies were limited in geographic scope to Connecticut and Rhode Island, which are both states with very high prevalence. [9][10][11] Another two studies showed a positive correlation between tick abundance and human cases, again focusing on specific regions (Wisconsin 12 and Westchester, New York 13 ). Two more location-specific studies have examined the link between numbers of ticks sampled by passive surveillance and cases in Rhode Island and Maine.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geographic Variation in the Relationship between Human Lyme Disease Incidence and Density of Infected Host-Seeking Ixodes scapularis Nymphs in the Eastern United States

Pepin¹,

Eisen²,

Mead³

et al. 2012

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

153

140

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Abstract. Prevention and control of Lyme disease is difficult because of the complex biology of the pathogen's (Borrelia burgdorferi) vector (Ixodes scapularis) and multiple reservoir hosts with varying degrees of competence. Cost-effective implementation of tick-and host-targeted control methods requires an understanding of the relationship between pathogen prevalence in nymphs, nymph abundance, and incidence of human cases of Lyme disease. We quantified the relationship between estimated acarological risk and human incidence using county-level human case data and nymphal prevalence data from field-derived estimates in 36 eastern states. The estimated density of infected nymphs (mDIN) was significantly correlated with human incidence (r = 0.69). The relationship was strongest in highprevalence areas, but it varied by region and state, partly because of the distribution of B. burgdorferi genotypes. More information is needed in several high-prevalence states before DIN can be used for cost-effectiveness analyses.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geographic Variation in the Relationship between Human Lyme Disease Incidence and Density of Infected Host-Seeking Ixodes scapularis Nymphs in the Eastern United States

Pepin¹,

Eisen²,

Mead³

et al. 2012

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

153

140

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For most vector-borne pathogens, no human vaccines exist; the main approach for reducing the public's risk for disease transmission is vector control. Vaccines directed at animal reservoirs provide additional opportunities to intervene in natural cycles and reduce disease risk by the criterion of number of infected vectors (4). Successful vaccination would decrease the availability of infected hosts to vectors, resulting in a lower proportion of vectors that are infected, and thus, a lower probability of pathogen transmission to humans.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

An ecological approach to preventing human infection: Vaccinating wild mouse reservoirs intervenes in the Lyme disease cycle

Tsao

Wootton

Bunikis

et al. 2004

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

274

222

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Many pathogens, such as the agents of West Nile encephalitis and plague, are maintained in nature by animal reservoirs and transmitted to humans by arthropod vectors. Efforts to reduce disease incidence usually rely on vector control or immunization of humans. Lyme disease, for which no human vaccine is currently available, is a commonly reported vector-borne disease in North America and Europe. In a recently developed, ecological approach to disease prevention, we intervened in the natural cycle of the Lyme disease agent (Borrelia burgdorferi) by immunizing wild white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus), a reservoir host species, with either a recombinant antigen of the pathogen, outer surface protein A, or a negative control antigen in a repeated field experiment with paired experimental and control grids stratified by site. Outer surface protein A vaccination significantly reduced the prevalence of B. burgdorferi in nymphal blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) collected at the sites the following year in both experiments. The magnitude of the vaccine's effect at a given site correlated with the tick infection prevalence found on the control grid, which in turn correlated with mouse density. These data, as well as differences in the population structures of B. burgdorferi in sympatric ticks and mice, indicated that nonmouse hosts contributed more to infecting ticks than previously expected. Thus, where nonmouse hosts play a large role in infection dynamics, vaccination should be directed at additional species.

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“…More recently, Mather and others 28 proposed an ''entomological risk index'', calculated by multiplying the number of ticks collected per person-hour by the proportion of ticks infected. We chose a technique based on area surveyed rather than collection time so that estimates of tick abundance would not be affected by collectors' travel rates.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Density and spatial distribution of Ixodes pacificus (Acari: Ixodidae) in two recreational areas in north coastal California.

Peavey²,

Lane³

2000

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. The density and distribution of Ixodes pacificus was assessed at 2 parks in north coastal California. The density of I. pacificus adults and nymphs varied significantly between years, trails, and sides of trails. Adult ticks occurred on vegetation along sun-exposed trails in January through March, their density (0-1.93 per 20 m) correlated with brush density, trail width, and presence of an uphill slope. Nymphs (0.06-5.10 per 20 m) occurred in leaf litter along shaded trails in May-July. Adult I. pacificus were rare at picnic sites (0.00-0.24 per 20 m), but nymphal densities (0.93-2.37 per 20 m) were comparable with those along some shaded trails. The prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in ticks (2.8% overall) did not differ significantly between locations, years, or stages. We conclude that the risk of acquiring Lyme disease in these sites is low, but varies among trails, seasons, and years.

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Entomologic Index for Human Risk of Lyme Disease

Cited by 171 publications

References 11 publications

Geographic Variation in the Relationship between Human Lyme Disease Incidence and Density of Infected Host-Seeking Ixodes scapularis Nymphs in the Eastern United States

Geographic Variation in the Relationship between Human Lyme Disease Incidence and Density of Infected Host-Seeking Ixodes scapularis Nymphs in the Eastern United States

An ecological approach to preventing human infection: Vaccinating wild mouse reservoirs intervenes in the Lyme disease cycle

Density and spatial distribution of Ixodes pacificus (Acari: Ixodidae) in two recreational areas in north coastal California.

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