Ixodes Pacificus (Noun)
Meaning
A tick that feeds on dusky-footed wood rat and bites humans; principal vector for Lyme disease in western United States especially northern California.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- Ixodes pacificus is the primary tick species responsible for transmitting Lyme disease to humans in the western United States.
- Ixodes pacificus is commonly found on dusky-footed wood rats, its preferred host, in northern California and other western regions.
- A bite from Ixodes pacificus can transmit Lyme disease to humans, who often acquire the tick while hiking or engaging in outdoor activities.
- In northern California, Ixodes pacificus is the most significant vector of Lyme disease, with cases peaking during the summer months.
- The Ixodes pacificus tick is particularly prevalent in woodland and grassland areas of the western United States, where its preferred host, the dusky-footed wood rat, is abundant.