TABLE 4.

PCR/RLB analysis of the cultures of questing ticks^a

Stage	No.		16S PCR/RLBb		5S-23S PCR/RLBb
	Ticks	Pools	16S	R57	SL	SS	GA	AF	VA
Nymph	1,298	49	1.85% (24)	0.00%	1.85% (24)	0.93% (12)	0.61% (8)	0.08% (1)	0.61% (8)
Adult	98	36	4.08% (4)	0.00%	4.08% (4)	2.04% (2)			2.04% (2)

^a16S, generic probe for 16S rRNA of Borrelia sp.; R57, specific probe for 16S rRNA of spirochetes similar to R57; SL, generic probe for 5S-23S rRNA of B. burgdorferi sensu lato; SS, specific probe for B. burgdorferi sensu stricto; GA, specific probe for B. garinii; AF, specific probe for B. afzelii; VA, specific probe for B. valaisiana.

^bPercentages indicate the minimum infection, considering one positive tick per pool. Values in parentheses are the number of positive pools per number of ticks processed (1,298 nymphs or 98 adults).