Lyme Disease is an infectious bacterial disease that is transmitted by ticks that were once known to be harbored by mice. The disease results in symptoms like skin rash, fever and headache. As the disease progresses, it may lead to arthritis and nervous system disorders. The Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto is the bacterium that causes Lyme disease and is commonly spread to humans by infected, blacklegged ticks. The ticks are actually the middle men in this infection process. As studied under a binocular zoom stereoscopic microscope, the ticks are believed to be infected during their larvae stage.

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania embarked on a study to inspect ticks under a binocular zoom stereoscopic microscope that were taken from the Hudson Valley woods. The study suggests that the ticks that carry Lyme disease are not only harbored by mice, but also by other animals such as chipmunks and shrews and are accountable for Lyme disease outbreaks. The study was performed by the Department of Biology at Pennsylvania, in collaboration with the Stony Brook University. It was duly supported by the U.S. Public Health Service, the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.

The study supported the known fact that a quarter of infected ticks were harbored by white-footed mice. Two species of shrews, the short-tailed shrews and the masked shrews account for a quarter each. Chipmunks were said to be responsible for harboring at least 13 percent of the infected ticks.

The researchers stated that the strategies aimed only at mice are likely to bring the occurrence of disease down, but vaccination strategies should also take into consideration the shrews and the chipmunks. As previously believed, zoonotic diseases like Lyme disease are known to only have one animal host. The findings from this research suggests that scientists take a closer look at the animal hosts, preferably under a binocular zoom stereoscopic microscope to see what other potential diseases they may harbor. It is not uncommon for bacteria to look for other hosts in order to replicate and survive.

Mice were believed to be the known natural hosts of the disease because evidence of the ticks that feed on infected mice contract the disease. The occurrence is almost two times compared to other animal species. Also, the abundance of mice in the natural environment and laboratory setting make it safe to assume that mice are the primary reservoir for Lyme disease. But contrary to these beliefs, the researchers found that the mice only fed 10 percent of the ticks while shrews actually fed 35 percent of all the ticks and 55 percent only of infected ticks.

The findings of this study will help public health strategies in the management of Lyme disease in North America. Now that the mice are not the prime hosts, researchers can look into making vaccines for shrews and chipmunks as well, therefore reducing the risk of Lyme disease and possible outbreaks. Public health organizations worldwide can now look forward to decreased numbers of the disease and prevent epidemics as well. Here is a link to the article