Table 4.

Transmission outcomes for mice fed upon for different durations of time by I. scapularis nymphs with PCR-based evidence of infection with B. mayonii in their bodies but not in their salivary glands versus mice fed upon by salivary-gland infected nymphs

Nymphal feeding status	Mice fed upon only by nymphs with B. mayonii-infection detected in their bodies but not in the salivary glands			Mice fed upon by nymphs with B. mayonii-infection detected in the salivary glands
	No. mice examined	No. mice with evidence of infectiona	Percent mice with evidence of infectiona	No. mice examined	No. mice with evidence of infectiona	Percent mice with evidence of infectiona
Fed—24 h	6	0	0	4b	0	0
Fed—48 h	8	0	0	5c	1d	20.0
Fed—72 h	7	0	0	4b	3	75.0

Evidence of transmission to mice was determined by culture of live spirochetes from ear biopsies and serology.

^aAs determined by culture of ear biopsies to detect live spirochetes and testing of serum for serological reactivity to B. mayonii.

^bMice fed upon by a single nymph with infected salivary glands.

^cFour mice fed upon by a single nymph with infected salivary glands and one mouse fed upon simultaneously by two nymphs with infected salivary glands.

^dMouse fed upon simultaneously by two nymphs with infected salivary glands.