TABLE 1.

Infection of I. ricinus larvae and nymphs by exposure to B. microti HK and GI strains in individual gerbils

B. microti strain	Tick stage applied	No. of ticks applied	No. of engorged ticks collected	% Parasitemia during tick feeding	No. of ticks PCR positive 4 wk after molting
HK	Larva	300	170	6.1-15.7	10/10 pools of 2
			264	10.4-19.8	10/10 pools of 2
	Nymph	30	23	1.4-13.1	4/5 females
			22	4.5-15.1	3/5 males
GI	Larva	300	240	11.6-52.7	10/10 pools of 2
			151	5.6-63.3	10/10 pools of 2
	Nymph	30	27	1.4-51.1	4/4 females
			24	6.3-49.3	4/6 males