Z. Hubalek et al., A SIMPLE METHOD OF TRANSMISSION RISK ASSESSMENT IN ENZOOTIC FOCI OF LYME BORRELIOSIS, European journal of epidemiology, 12(4), 1996, pp. 331-333
The proposed method consists in examining individual host-seeking vect
or ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex by microscopy for borreliae and
evaluating the proportion of ticks with more than 100 borreliae. The
investigations were carried out in a deciduous oak forest habitat in S
outh Moravia, Czech Republic, over four years (1991-1994). In May (i.e
., at the peak of seasonal activity of I. ricinus), about 150 nymphal
and 200 adult ticks were examined each year. It was found that annual
incidence of human Lyme borreliosis in the region correlated better wi
th the proportion of heavily infected ticks than with the overall infe
ction rate of the ticks.