In Europe, of all the vector transmitted diseases, the occurrence of lyme
disease is the one most often registered, and the most significant vector
Borrelia burgdorferi is the tick Ixodes ricinus. Both humans and animals
contract lyme disease. The risk of the occurrence of lyme disease is in
correlation with potential exposure to tick bites and depends on the density
of the tick population in the endemic area, the percentage of ticks infected
with the cause of lyme disease, the duration and the nature of the activity
of the susceptible population in a certain area. The objective of these
investigations was to determine the entomological and the ecological risk
index, as well as to assess the risk of transmission of the cause of lyme
disease in the territory of Vojvodina Province in the Republic of Serbia.
Ticks were collected at 12 locations in the South Bačka District of
Vojvodina. A total of 1400 ticks were identified up to the level of species.
After establishing the infection of ticks with the cause of lyme disease, the
entomological and the ecological index was determined for the given regions
using microscopic examination in a dark field. Two species of ticks aere
identified in this geographic region (Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor
marginatus). Examining I. ricinus, the prevalence of infection B. burgdorferi
was established, ranging up to 33.1%. The ecological risk index indicates
that there is a potential risk of humans and animals becoming infected at 8
localities. It was determined for 3 localities that there is a definite
actual risk of the transferrence of causes of lyme disease
