Lindsay Beyerstein: Lizards Save California from Lyme Disease: Noted for August 21, 2013

Lindsay Beyerstein: Lizards Save California from Lyme Disease:

In California, Lyme Disease levels remain very low, despite large deer populations. California's detox secret is the humble Western Fence Lizard…. "In prime Lyme disease territory… up to 30% of deer ticks carry the infection. Almost all cases… occur in 13 states. California isn’t among them… we have… our own little natural vaccine program going. In this state, nymphal ticks’ favorite host is the common western fence lizard, which has a protein in it blood that kills the bacterium responsible for Lyme. As a result, few adult ticks are carriers." Three cheers for the Western Fence Lizard!