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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, December 1998, p. 4663-4669, Vol. 64, No. 12
0099-2240/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Geographic Risk for Lyme Disease and Human
Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis in Southern New York State
Thomas J.
Daniels,1,*
Theresa M.
Boccia,1
Shobha
Varde,2
Jonathan
Marcus,2
Jianhua
Le,3
Doris J.
Bucher,3
Richard C.
Falco,1,4 and
Ira
Schwartz2
Vector Ecology Laboratory, Louis Calder
Center, Fordham University, Armonk, New York
10504,1 and
Department of
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology,2
Department of Microbiology & Immunology,3 and
Department of
Medicine,4 New York Medical College, Valhalla,
New York 10595
Received 1 May 1998/Accepted 10 September 1998
Ixodes scapularis, the tick vector of Lyme disease and
human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE), is prevalent in much of southern New York state. The distribution of this species has increased, as have
reported cases of both Lyme disease and HGE. The unreliability of case
reports, however, demonstrates the need for tick and pathogen surveillance in order to accurately define areas of high risk. In this
study, a total of 89,550 m2 at 34 study sites was drag
sampled in 1995 and a total of 51,540 m2 at 40 sites was
sampled in 1996 to determine tick and pathogen distribution in southern
New York state. I. scapularis was collected from 90% of
the sites sampled, and regionally, a 2.5-fold increase in nymphal
abundance occurred from 1995 to 1996. I. scapularis individuals from all sites were infected with Borrelia
burgdorferi in 1995, while an examination of ticks for both
B. burgdorferi and the agent of HGE in 1996 confirmed
that these organisms were present in all counties; the average
coinfection rate was 1.9%. No correlation was found between estimated
risk and reported cases of Lyme disease. The geographic disparity of
risk observed among sites in this study underscores the need for vector
and pathogen surveillance on a regional level. An entomologic risk
index can help identify sites for targeted tick control efforts.
*
Corresponding author. Mailing address: Vector Ecology
Laboratory, Louis Calder Center, Fordham University, P.O. Box K,
Armonk, NY 10504. Phone: (914) 273-3078. Fax: (914) 273-6346. E-mail: daniels{at}nymc.edu.

Contribution no. 158 to the Louis Calder Center, Fordham
University.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, December 1998, p. 4663-4669, Vol. 64, No. 12
0099-2240/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
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