Lyme Borreliosis: Transmission & Maintenance
Ticks & Animals involved in Transmission & Maintenance Cycle of Lyme Borreliosis
Information in this section includes:
Subtitles and Information presented on this page:
Lyme Disease (LD) / Lyme Borreliosis is described as a vector-borne disease as it is spread via the bite of arachnids (ticks).
While there are a number of ways Lyme can be transmitted (See Various Transmission Methods), this page focuses on
How Lyme is transmitted and maintained within the environment: Brief outline of the role of vectors (ticks) and reservoir hosts of Borrelia (Bacteria underlying Lyme)
Ticks and Human Disease: Discussion of the ticks role (and cycle) in human disease
Table of Tick Vectors of Lyme Disease / Borreliosis: A list of ticks that are known to be involved in the Lyme/borrelia cycle.
Ticks from the list that are recorded in Australia: I. uriae, I. auritulus, H. bispinosa, H. longicornis.
R.sanguineus and R. Microplus are also implicated in the borrelia cycle; in that they have been found to carry the borrelia spirochete, though their competence as vectors is an area of contention.
Lyme Disease (LD) / Lyme Borreliosis is described as a vector-borne disease as it is spread via the bite of arachnids (ticks).
While there are a number of ways Lyme can be transmitted (See Various Transmission Methods), this page focuses on
How Lyme is transmitted and maintained within the environment: Brief outline of the role of vectors (ticks) and reservoir hosts of Borrelia (Bacteria underlying Lyme)
Ticks and Human Disease: Discussion of the ticks role (and cycle) in human disease
Table of Tick Vectors of Lyme Disease / Borreliosis: A list of ticks that are known to be involved in the Lyme/borrelia cycle.
Ticks from the list that are recorded in Australia: I. uriae, I. auritulus, H. bispinosa, H. longicornis.
R.sanguineus and R. Microplus are also implicated in the borrelia cycle; in that they have been found to carry the borrelia spirochete, though their competence as vectors is an area of contention.
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Subtitles and Information presented on this page:
For ease of access the Tick Vector Table from the Transmission & Maintenance section has been reproduced as a stand-alone table. |
Subtitles and Information presented on this page:
Lyme Borreliosis is described as a vector-borne disease as it is spread via the bite of arachnids (ticks). While ticks were the topic of discussion in the 'Transmission and Maintenance' section, this particular section looks at the other various methods of transmission. Some of these methods are confirmed, others are the subject of contention and in need of further research. These methods include, blood sucking insects other than ticks, contact transmission, human to human transmission, blood and organ donation.
Lyme Borreliosis is described as a vector-borne disease as it is spread via the bite of arachnids (ticks). While ticks were the topic of discussion in the 'Transmission and Maintenance' section, this particular section looks at the other various methods of transmission. Some of these methods are confirmed, others are the subject of contention and in need of further research. These methods include, blood sucking insects other than ticks, contact transmission, human to human transmission, blood and organ donation.
Subtitles and Information presented on this page:
In order to appreciate why the information presented in the following three sections (Birds as Vector & Reservoir Hosts, Mammals as Vector & Reservoir Hosts, Rhipicephalus & Dermecentor Ticks) is relevant to understanding the high possibility that the Borrelia bacteria underlying Lyme is in the Australian environment, this page gives an outline of the discussions that are presented in the upcoming sections.
In order to appreciate why the information presented in the following three sections (Birds as Vector & Reservoir Hosts, Mammals as Vector & Reservoir Hosts, Rhipicephalus & Dermecentor Ticks) is relevant to understanding the high possibility that the Borrelia bacteria underlying Lyme is in the Australian environment, this page gives an outline of the discussions that are presented in the upcoming sections.
Examined with a focus on the Ixodes Uriae (Seabird) and Ixodes Auritulus (Bird) Ticks
Subtitles and Information presented on this page:
Birds can be both vector (tick hosts) and reservoir (carry the bacteria in their blood) hosts in the spread and maintenance of Lyme borreliosis. The section outlines a number of bird species that have been found to be reservoir hosts of Borrelia, as well as examines their role in spreading the vectors, ticks, across countries/continents. Whilst the presence of Lyme continues to be denied in Australia, we do have a number of ticks present in Australia that have been identified as tick vectors. These include the Ixode Uriae (seabird) and I. auritulus (bird) ticks. Due to these ticks being recorded in Australia, the role of birds in Lyme disease is further explored through examination of these ticks and their associated bird hosts.
Subtitles and Information presented on this page:
Birds can be both vector (tick hosts) and reservoir (carry the bacteria in their blood) hosts in the spread and maintenance of Lyme borreliosis. The section outlines a number of bird species that have been found to be reservoir hosts of Borrelia, as well as examines their role in spreading the vectors, ticks, across countries/continents. Whilst the presence of Lyme continues to be denied in Australia, we do have a number of ticks present in Australia that have been identified as tick vectors. These include the Ixode Uriae (seabird) and I. auritulus (bird) ticks. Due to these ticks being recorded in Australia, the role of birds in Lyme disease is further explored through examination of these ticks and their associated bird hosts.
Examined with a focus on the Haemaphysalis Longicornis (Bush /scrub) and Haemaphysalis Bispinosa Ticks
Subtitles and Information presented on this page:
Mammals (and other animals) can be both vector (tick hosts) and reservoir (carry the bacteria in their blood) hosts in the spread and maintenance of Lyme disease. The following outlines a number of animal species that have been found to be reservoir hosts of Borrelia, as well as examines their role in spreading the vectors, ticks, across countries. Whilst the presence of Lyme disease continues to be denied in Australia, we do have a number of ticks present in Australia that have been identified as tick vectors. This includes the Haemaphysalis longicornis (scrub/bush) tick. Due to this tick being recorded in Australia, the role of mammals (and other animals) in Lyme borreliosis is further explored through examination of this ticks and its associated animal hosts.
Subtitles and Information presented on this page:
Mammals (and other animals) can be both vector (tick hosts) and reservoir (carry the bacteria in their blood) hosts in the spread and maintenance of Lyme disease. The following outlines a number of animal species that have been found to be reservoir hosts of Borrelia, as well as examines their role in spreading the vectors, ticks, across countries. Whilst the presence of Lyme disease continues to be denied in Australia, we do have a number of ticks present in Australia that have been identified as tick vectors. This includes the Haemaphysalis longicornis (scrub/bush) tick. Due to this tick being recorded in Australia, the role of mammals (and other animals) in Lyme borreliosis is further explored through examination of this ticks and its associated animal hosts.
Subtitles and Information presented on this page:
Borrelia has been found in ticks of the Rhipicephalus genera, however their competence as vectors (rather than just carriers) is an area of contention that requires much further research. Any research into the competence of particular species of ticks should also be aware of the finding that vector competence studies may be altered when ticks are examined in co-feeding (rather than singular tick species) studies. For example, while ticks of the Dermencentor species may be found to be incompetent vectors when feeding alone, in studies where they are co-fed with other species of ticks, they are found to be competent vectors. While there are no ticks of the Dermencentor genera in Australia, this family of ticks is examined briefly below due to the significance of these findings. Considering that in the natural environment many different species of ticks may be found on the host animal, further co-feeding studies of various tick species are warranted and urgently required.
Borrelia has been found in ticks of the Rhipicephalus genera, however their competence as vectors (rather than just carriers) is an area of contention that requires much further research. Any research into the competence of particular species of ticks should also be aware of the finding that vector competence studies may be altered when ticks are examined in co-feeding (rather than singular tick species) studies. For example, while ticks of the Dermencentor species may be found to be incompetent vectors when feeding alone, in studies where they are co-fed with other species of ticks, they are found to be competent vectors. While there are no ticks of the Dermencentor genera in Australia, this family of ticks is examined briefly below due to the significance of these findings. Considering that in the natural environment many different species of ticks may be found on the host animal, further co-feeding studies of various tick species are warranted and urgently required.
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