Data associated with: Ecological dynamics of blacklegged ticks, their vertebrate hosts, and associated zoonotic pathogens in northeastern forests

Tick-borne diseases are increasingly common in North America, with human risk related to the abundance of infected ticks. This study analyzed 2,017 black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) collected over nine years from forested sites in New York, screening for 16 zoonotic pathogens. Seven pathogens were detected, including Borrelia burgdorferi (19.3%), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (5.8%), and B. miyamotoi (1.5%), with prevalence consistent with prior studies. Babesia microti prevalence (21.4%) was notably higher than previously reported. Coinfection with B. burgdorferi and B. microti increased from 4% to 10% during the study. Three pathogens were observed only in single years: Powassan virus, Rickettsia parkeri, and R. rickettsii.File list:NymphalInfectionData.csvNymphalInfectionData_Columnheader.csv- definitions for all column headers in NymphalInfectionData.csvallthedata_grid.csvallthedata_grid_Columnheader- definitions for all column headers in allthedata_grid.csvMetaData_InfData_SHARE - contains project documentation for nymphal infection data collectionMetaData_Allthedata_grid_SHARE - contains project documentation for tick and host data collection