What role does the Western fence lizard play in Lyme disease dynamics?
Answer
Its blood contains a protein that kills the Lyme bacteria in the tick gut
The Western fence lizard is a common host for juvenile ticks in California and parts of the Pacific Northwest. The blood of these lizards contains a specific protein that neutralizes the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium when a tick takes a blood meal from the lizard. This biological interaction effectively clears the pathogen from the tick, which contributes significantly to the lower infection rates observed in the tick population within these regions.
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