Assessment of the risk of contracting Lyme disease in areas with significant human presence

Abstract

In order to describe seasonal changes in Lyme disease risk rate at three localities in Serbia, a total of 1,542 Ixodes ricinus ticks (493 nymphs; 525 females, and 524 males) were examined from 2003 to 2004. The prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Ixodes ricinus ticks at the Bovan Lake County was higher than the average for European localities (45.9% for adults and 18.8% for nymphs). In Mt. Avala and Kljaji?aelig;evo counties, adults and nymphs were infected at the following percentages: 26.3 and 10.7; 16.2 and 7.6%, respectively. These outcomes indicate a relatively high risk of the contracting Lyme disease in all investigated areas.