Lyme borreliosis (LB), caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) spirochetes is the most common vector-borne zoonotic disease in the Northern Hemisphere. More than 230,000 new human cases are reported in Europe annually.
There is an increasing trend in incidence of human borreliosis in Georgia. However, there is no data available about the host, reservoir, vector species and the prevalence of LB associated Borrelia spp. in vector ticks, all playing a key role in disease epidemiology in the region. Those circumstances show the increased need for the investigation of the ecology and the distribution of vector and reservoir animal species. 
Regarding these, the presented research goal is to investigate the ecology of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato spirochetes and model the distribution of their vector tick species in Georgia in order to identify high risk zones for LB transmission to humans.
With the implementation of this research project, for the first time in Georgia, using modern molecular techniques (real-time and conventional PCR, sequencing) we will identify LB causing spirochete species, their host, reservoir and vector species in Georgia, create the knowledge about their ecology and model the vector species distribution using maximum entropy (MaxEnt) modeling. Modeled distribution maps of different vector (tick) species will be used to produce LB wildlife to human transmission risk maps. Results of this project will improve the ability of relevant public health protection agencies to properly plan surveillance and implement evidence-based public health measures for LB and minimize the transmission risk of disease to humans. The results of this study will be useful for the epidemiological research of other tick-borne diseases in Georgia and throughout Caucasus region.