Topic: 2007: SKinks Dilute Bb but nOT Eastern fence Lizards!!!
CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
1: J Parasitol. 2007 Jun;93(3):511-7. The role of lizards in the ecology of Lyme disease in two endemic zones of the northeastern United States.Giery ST, Ostfeld RS. Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Box AB, Route 44A, Millbrook, New York 12545, USA.
We examined the role of lizards in the ecology of Lyme disease in New York and Maryland. We collected data on vector tick infestations, measured lizard "realized" reservoir competence for the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, and estimated lizard population density. These data were incorporated into a model that predicts a host's ability to influence the prevalence of B. burgdorferi in the tick population, a primary risk factor in the epidemiology of Lyme disease. Published data on other northeastern hosts were included in the model to provide a reference for interpreting the importance of lizards as hosts. The model results indicate that 5-lined skinks (Eumeces fasciatus) are dilution hosts, capable of reducing infection prevalence in the tick population by 10.7-51.5 percentage points, whereas eastern fence lizards (Sceloporus undulatus) are not dilution hosts in the areas studied. Owing to moderate burdens of larval ticks, relatively high population densities, and reservoir incompetence, E. fasciatus may play an important role in the ecology of Lyme disease by reducing vector infection prevalence and associated human risk of infection.
PMID: 17626342
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
It is interesting what they said and didn't say in this abstract. They chose to emphasis the positive. Didn't say that the fence lizards were a reservoir and did not dilute the infection. Or tell us which of these two species had the highest populations.
I have a vague recollection of work done in the Caribbean which showed a lizard was reservoir for yellow fever virus.
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
| IP: Logged |
CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
No Lou they did say Eastern Fencers are not dilution hosts as Cavey quoted*)*!)! Just the Westerners*)!*)!)!
So we need to massacre skinks AND Western Fence lizards and see what they share!!!!!!!!
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
| IP: Logged |
EtherealGirl
Unregistered
posted
Nooooooo! I had a blue tounge skink and he was my bestest friend. They are lovely lizards!
IP: Logged |
posted
Yes, you are right, but I was looking at the last sentence of the abstract, just like the conclusion statements of a full text article, it gives weight to certain facts and omits others. And they told us that skinks have a high population density, but said nothing about fence lizard density.
Seemed to me like a way to put a positive spin, a happy face on the results.
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
| IP: Logged |
Vanilla
Unregistered
posted
You just have to love those skinks.
Off to go on a snipe hunt.
Is it hot enough today in Western skink land? It is almost headache hot. Would someone please turn the temp down a little - I am no skink.
Ethereal Girl I have dated more then one skink yet none of them are still my best friend.
I think a skink ate my home work and my birth certifcate. I can not find a thing around here.
posted
Nope - I have dated skinks and skanks both. There is a difference between the two. One wears lounge lizard clothes and looks like a lizard and the other one is a lounge lizard yet claims to be a French chef.
They should really start teaching lounge lizard detection in High School instead of sewing and cooking.
IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic