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Lyme Disease Prevalence in Ticks in SUNY Broome Natural Areas (2013-2025)
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2025
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WW Study 2025.pdf
Adobe PDF, 674.81 KB
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Lyme disease is a common health concern in New York and is spread by black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) carrying Borrelia burgdorferi. Tick samples collected from SUNY Broome Natural Areas between 2013 and 2025 were tested for the presence of B. burgdorferi to estimate yearly infection percentages and assess long-term changes in risk. Annual prevalence varied signficantly but showed an overall positive trend (r2 = 0.397). Similar natural fluctuations in tick-borne prevalence have been described in northeastern ecological studies. Winter climate data from 2013 to 2025 also showed year-to-year variability with a gradual warming trend in Binghamton, NY. This project did not test a direct relationship between climate and infection, but continued campus monitoring can support student safety and future ecological work.
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Item is a poster presentation completed by students under the tutelage of biology faculty Tracy Curtis, PhD. The goal of this project was to analyze ticks collected from SUNY Broome Natural Areas between 2013 and 2025 to measure annual infection percentages and determine whether Lyme prevalence on campus has increased, decreased, or remained stable.