Ixodes Scapularis (Noun)
Meaning
Parasitic on mice of genus Peromyscus and bites humans; principal vector for Lyme disease in eastern United States (especially New England); northern form was for a time known as Ixodes dammini (deer tick).
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- Ixodes scapularis is primarily parasitic on mice of the genus Peromyscus, but is notorious for its habit of biting humans and other large mammals.
- In North America, the principal vector for Lyme disease is the tick Ixodes scapularis, which is prevalent in the eastern United States.
- During peak Lyme disease transmission months in New England, awareness of the black-legged tick, also known as Ixodes scapularis, becomes critical for local residents and outdoor enthusiasts.
- Once classified separately, Ixodes dammini was found to be merely the northern variant of the common tick Ixodes scapularis.
- Tick surveys reveal the expansion of the range of Ixodes scapularis throughout much of eastern and midwestern United States.