LANDSCAPE FEATURES ASSOCIATED WITH LYME-DISEASE RISK IN A SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT

The landscape features of residential properties within two communitie s were studied in relation to the abundance of the tick vector Ixodes scapularis. Habitat types of 400 properties, located in a Lyme disease endemic area of Westchester Co., New York, USA, were categorized into lawn, ornamental, ecotone, woods, and stone wall as measured from aer ial photographs and sampled for nymphal-stage ticks. Logistic regressi on results indicate that presence or absence of ticks is influenced by the proportion of either lawn or woodland, and total woodland area. P oisson regression results indicate the abundance of nymphs is negative ly associated with proportion, area, and patch frequency of lawn, and positively associated with proportion, area, and patch frequency of wo odland. Predictions of tick presence and abundance from landscape feat ures at the scale of individual property is useful for implementing di sease prevention measures.