The characteristics of the distribution of the causative agent of Lyme disease and of the behavior of infected ticks of the genus Ixodes

It is demonstrated that in the regions, where Ixodes persulcatus and I. ricinus are sympatric, the incidence and prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi among the latter tick species is higher. In areas, where the Ixodes persulcatus population infected with Borrelia were met, the percent of infected I. ricinus was 3-4 times more and the number of detection of Borrelia-infected specimens was 9 times higher than in the regions, where I. persulcatus was absent. The hypothesis is proposed, that the tick I. persulcatus is a carrier and source of the most virulent and acarotropic Borrelia form. It is stated, that the reaction of the Borrelia-infected Ixodes ticks (I. persulcatus and I. ricinus) on the plant odour is changed. It is supposed that such changed plant odour-dependent behavior would be able to be enhancer of the I. persulcatus--I. ricinus Borrelia exchange process.