Systematic and Applied Acarology (2002) 7, 15-22

Yi Sun, Rongman Xu, Tianyu Guo, Panhe Zhang and Wuchun Cao (2002)
Ability of Ixodes persulcatus, Haemaphysalis concinna and Dermacentor silvarum to acquire and transstadially transmit the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia garinii
Systematic and Applied Acarology 7, 15-22
Abstract: To determine the principal vectors of Lyme disease in North China, the capability of I. persulcatus, H. concinna and D. silvarum to transmit Lyme spirochetes transstadially was estimated under laboratory conditions. Results suggest that all three tick species can acquire active Lyme spirochetes by feeding on infected KM mice. However, the three species vary in their ability to maintain spirochetes. Only I. persulcatus can maintain active spirochetes during molting, with subsequent tick stages infectious to innocent KM mice. Haemaphysalis concinna and D. silvarum maintain spirochetes no longer than the digestion period of blood; after molting, no spirochetes were detected in these two tick species. Therefore, I. persulcatus should be considered the principal vector of Lyme disease in North China. The presence of spirochetes in H. concinna and D. silvarum may be tied to co-feeding with I. persulcatus.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Ixodes persulcatus		China (NE)
	Haemaphysalis concinna		China (NE)
	Dermacentor silvarum		China (NE)