Dr. Xia Lee

Vector Biologist

Midwest Center for Excellence: Vector Borne Disease

Paskewitz Lab
Department of Entomology
UW-Madison

In Wisconsin the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, is responsible for the transmission of several pathogens that cause Lyme disease, human anaplasmosis, human babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and Powassan virus disease. In 2021, our team surveyed for I. scapularis on Blackhawk Island and found nymphal densities comparable to other high intensity sites in Wisconsin and detected the presence of several tick-borne pathogens. In 2022, we will determine the effectiveness of the DWINs as a tool for the passive surveillance of I. scapularis compared to ticks collected from drags as a way to assess the sensitivity of the DWINs to detect the presence of ticks on small rodent hosts.