Ecology and Epidemiology of Lyme Borreliosis

Abstract

Lyme borreliosis is a zoonotic, tick-borne disease that infects humans worldwide. The disease is currently recognized as the most common vector-borne disease in Europe and North America. Disease is caused by several genospecies of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. Humans are at high risk of infection in regions where highly competent reservoirs are the primary hosts for the subadult stages of the tick, in contrast to regions where less competent or refractory animals feed ticks. Human infections are also most frequently associated with spring and summer months when the nymph stage of the tick is active.

Keywords: Borrelia burgdorferi; Borreliosis; Ecology; Epidemiology; Incidence; Ixodes; Lyme disease.