Emerging Infectious Diseases (Feb 2021)

Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Stricto DNA in Field-Collected Haemaphysalis longicornis Ticks, Pennsylvania, United States

  • Keith J. Price,
  • Christine B. Graham,
  • Bryn J. Witmier,
  • Holly A. Chapman,
  • Brooke L. Coder,
  • Christian N. Boyer,
  • Erik Foster,
  • Sarah E. Maes,
  • Ying Bai,
  • Rebecca J. Eisen,
  • Andrew D. Kyle

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2702.201552
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 27, no. 2
pp. 608 – 611

Abstract

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We collected questing Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks from southeastern counties of Pennsylvania, USA. Of 263 ticks tested by PCR for pathogens, 1 adult female was positive for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, yielding a 0.4% infection rate. Continued monitoring of this invasive tick is essential to determine its public health role.

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