Do soil microorganisms such as fungi explain variation in local Lyme disease risk in northern Dutchess County?

Lyme disease has emerged as the most common tick-borne disease in the United States and the sixth most common notable disease. A blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) infected with the bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, transmits the illness to humans and wildlife. Across northern Dutchess County, there is variation in the number reported Lyme disease cases, with certain areas having higher incidence than others. Thus, it is important to understand the ecological factors that explain this variation of risk in peridomestic environments. Recent research has focused on the role of entomopathogenic fu... Mehr ...