TABLE 3.

Quantification by competitive PCR of the HGE agent within flat and feeding nymphal ticks and subsequently molted adult ticks at intervals relative to time of attachment to uninfected mice

Interval after attachment or stage	Prevalence of tick infection	No. of bacteria/tick (mean ± SD)
Prefeeding	6/20	2.6 ± 4.1 (× 106)
24 h	8/24	7.0 ± 0.3 (× 105)
48 h	7/24	4.5 ± 3.8 (× 107)
96 h	7/24	8.0 ± 2.3 (× 107)
Uninfected nymphs	0/43	0
Molted nymphs
Female	7/10	2.3 ± 3.9 (× 106)
Male	3/10	4.7 ± 4.0 (× 106)