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Updated: May 8, 2026

Detecting the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia Burgdorferi, in Ticks Using Nested PCR
Published on: February 4, 2018
Five human pathogens detected by tick surveillance in New York City parks, 2014-2015
Waheed Bajwa1, Ashley Kennedy2, Zachary Vincent2
1New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York City, NY, USA.
Abstract:
A total of 2,504 ticks of 5 species (Ixodes scapularis, Dermacentor variabilis, Amblyomma americanum, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, and H. longicornis) were collected over 2 yr (2014-2015) in New York City parks. Specimens were collected via tick-dragging, identified to species, and tested for pathogens of human diseases. The causative agents of 5 human diseases (Lyme borreliosis, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever) were detected in a subset of samples. Results of this surveillance effort further illustrate that risk of tick-borne disease is considerable even in parks located adjacent to densely populated areas.
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