Tick Surveillance in San Mateo County, January 2007

Entomology Report January 2007, San Mateo County Mosquito Abatement District

In January, tick collections were made from Edgewood Park, (Redwood City), Huddart Park, (Woodside), Laurelwood Park (San Mateo), Water Dog Lake (Belmont), and Costanoa (Pescadero). So far, a total of 827 ticks from 5 parks were collected. Evidence of infection with Lyme disease spirochetes was detected for the first time in Edgewood Park (1 positive) and Laurelwood Park (3 positives).

The District was contacted from residents of Belmont (near Water Dog Lake) and Pacifica with concerns about ticks in their neighborhoods. In Pacifica, questing ticks can be found in the open spaces between homes. In Belmont, western black-legged ticks were found inside a home adjoining the open space around Water Dog Lake, presumably brought in by the family cat. These instances illustrate the need to watch out for ticks even if one does not engage in outdoor activities at this time of year.

Previous related entries:

Tick Surveillance in San Mateo County, December 2006, December 2006
San Mateo County: Lyme Disease Surveillance Winter/Spring 2005-06, June 2006
San Mateo County: Lyme Disease Surveillance Winter/Spring 2005-06, April 2006
San Mateo County: Lyme Disease Surveillance Winter/Spring 2005-06, March 2006
San Mateo County: Lyme Disease Surveillance 2006, February 2006
San Mateo County: Lyme Disease Surveillance 2006, January 2006
San Mateo County: Lyme Disease Surveillance, November/December 2005
San Mateo County: Lyme Disease Surveillance, October 2005
San Mateo County: Lyme Disease Surveillance, January 2005