Ecological interactions driving population dynamics of two tick-borne pathogens, Borrelia burgdorferi and Babesia microti

Abstract excerpt

Borrelia burgdorferi ( Bb ) and Babesia microti ( Bm ) are vector-borne zoonotic pathogens commonly found co-circulating in Ixodes scapularis and Peromyscus leucopus populations. The restricted distribution and lower prevalence of Bm has been historically attributed to lower host-to-tick transmission efficiency and limited host ranges. We hypothesized that prevalence patterns are driven by coinfection dynamics...