Incidence of Lyme borreliosis following Ixodes ricinus tick bites in Poland: a citizen science approach

The overall risk of LB following an I. ricinus bite was relatively low. While B. afzelii was the dominant species detected, the potential risk posed by B. miyamotoi warrants attention, given its significantly higher spirochete load compared with the B. burgdorferi sensu lato complex, potentially indicating greater transmission efficiency. The observed decline in spirochete load with increasing attachment time suggests a complex dynamic that may influence transmission risk, meriting further investigation. This study highlights the utility of citizen science as a viable method for collecting large-scale data on human-tick encounters, despite methodological constraints inherent in volunteer-based research.