<<
>>

CO-FEEDING

Transmission of LBS between infected and uninfected ticks does not necessarily rely on systemic infection in the vertebrate host. Infection may be acquired by direct co­feeding by uninfected ticks that are feeding simultaneously with infected ticks, even if there is some physical separa­tion between the transmitting and acquiring ticks in the absence of spirochaetemia.

In addition, uninfected ticks may acquire infection by indirect co-feeding from a local­ized site at which infected ticks have previously fed. Although the contribution of such non-systemic transmis­sion may be negligible or masked in systems that are not host-limited, this mechanism may be important for LBS persistence in areas where reservoir hosts are not reliably abundant, as co-feeding transmission probably can occur in non-competent hosts.

<< | >>
Source: Gavier-Widen D., Meredith A., Duff Paul J. (eds.). Infectious Diseases of Wild Mammals and Birds in Europe. London: Wiley-Blackwell,2012. — 568 p.. 2012
More medical literature on Medic.Studio

More on the topic CO-FEEDING: