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Human Babesiosis on Nantucket Island: Transmission by Nymphal Ixodes Ticks

In order to identify potential vectors of human babesiosis (Babesia microti) in southern Massachusetts, I attempted to transmit the infection via nymphal ticks of that species found to be most abundant on reservoir hosts (Peromyscus leucopus) in nature. Mice were collected at frequent intervals throughout a year in a known enzootic focus on Nantucket Island, and ticks were removed by hand. Ticks of only two species were present; larvae and nymphs of Ixodes scapularis were about 10 times as numerous as were those of Dermacentor variabilis. Accordingly, I. scapularis were used in attempts to transmit a strain of Babesia derived from a human infection recently acquired near the study site. Larvae were permitted to feed on an infected hamster and nymphs derived from these larvae were placed on each of 11 non-infected hamsters. All but one hamster became infected. Nymphs reared from larvae that had attached to a non-infected hamster did not transmit babesiosis to other hamsters. These results suggest that I. scapularis serves as a vector of babesiosis on Nantucket Island.

Accepted for publication April 10, 1976.

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				S. J. Swanson, D. Neitzel, K. D. Reed, and E. A. Belongia Coinfections Acquired from Ixodes Ticks Clin. Microbiol. Rev., October 1, 2006; 19(4): 708 - 727. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]