Figure 1.

Simplified diagram of the parameters influencing the density of infected questing nymphs at a given time (DIN_t). DON_t: density of questing nymphs at time t; NIP_t: prevalence of infected questing nymphs at time t; DOL: density of questing larvae. The squares in dotted lines represent the parameters related to ticks questing in the environment, the squares in solid lines represent the parameters related to ticks feeding on small mammals, and the circles in solid lines represent the parameters related to small mammals. The parameters monitored during this study are depicted in bold.