Lyme borreliosis in the UK - ecology and risks to domestic animals and Man

The different associations of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato spirochaetes with their natural reservoir hosts and tick vectors are slowly being unrave lled. This review discusses the interactions of different genospecies of Ly me borreliosis spirochaetes and their differing tick vectors, vertebrate re servoirs and 'accidental hosts'. Particular reference is made to spirochaet e-host interactions and occurrence of pathological consequences. Attention is focused on the unique prevalence of enzoonotic cycles in operation withi n the UK. Risk factors for acquiring Lyme borreliosis in man are discussed. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.