Co-Infection of Blacklegged Ticks with Babesia microti and Borrelia burgdorferi Is Higher than Expected and Acquired from Small Mammal Hosts

Michelle H. Hersh; Richard S. Ostfeld; Diana J. McHenry; Michael Tibbetts; Jesse L. Brunner; Mary E. Killilea; Kathleen LoGiudice; Kenneth A. Schmidt; Felicia Keesing

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0099348

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Open Access

Peer-reviewed

Research Article

Co-Infection of Blacklegged Ticks with Babesia microti and Borrelia burgdorferi Is Higher than Expected and Acquired from Small Mammal Hosts

Michelle H. Hersh ,

* E-mail: mhersh@sarahlawrence.edu

Current address: Department of Biology, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, New York, United States of America

Affiliations Program in Biology, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, United States of America, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New York, United States of America
⨯
Richard S. Ostfeld,

Affiliation Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New York, United States of America
⨯
Diana J. McHenry,

Affiliation Program in Biology, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, United States of America
⨯
Michael Tibbetts,

Affiliation Program in Biology, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, United States of America
⨯
Jesse L. Brunner,

Affiliation School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
⨯
Mary E. Killilea,

Affiliation Department of Environmental Studies, New York University, New York, New York, United States of America
⨯
Kathleen LoGiudice,

Affiliation Department of Biology, Union College, Schenectady, New York, United States of America
⨯
Kenneth A. Schmidt,

Affiliation Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, United States of America
⨯
Felicia Keesing

Affiliation Program in Biology, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, United States of America
⨯

Co-Infection of Blacklegged Ticks with Babesia microti and Borrelia burgdorferi Is Higher than Expected and Acquired from Small Mammal Hosts

Michelle H. Hersh,
Richard S. Ostfeld,
Diana J. McHenry,
Michael Tibbetts,
Jesse L. Brunner,
Mary E. Killilea,
Kathleen LoGiudice,
Kenneth A. Schmidt,
Felicia Keesing

Published: June 18, 2014
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0099348

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B. Duncani

Posted by bafries on 19 Jun 2014 at 14:08 GMT

If they had included tests for Babesia Duncani (aka WA1) the prevalence of co-infections would be much higher. Babesia duncani (aka WA1) is much more common in the eastern U.S. than many researchers and physicians are aware of. Clin Vaccine Immunol. Nov 2010; 17(11): 1729–1733.

No competing interests declared.

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Co-Infection of Blacklegged Ticks with Babesia microti and Borrelia burgdorferi Is Higher than Expected and Acquired from Small Mammal Hosts

Co-Infection of Blacklegged Ticks with Babesia microti and Borrelia burgdorferi Is Higher than Expected and Acquired from Small Mammal Hosts

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B. Duncani

Posted by bafries on 19 Jun 2014 at 14:08 GMT