In a new study, scientists say they found more infected ticks had fed on shrews, upending the common belief that white-footed mice were the main culprits.

After eight years of research, a new breakthrough in science has taken a big step forward in potentially stopping the transmission of Lyme disease between mice and ticks.

Earlier this month, Care Access said the FDA inspected the company’s activities in the Lyme vaccine trials and it resulted in no “Form 483,” observations, meaning investigators found no clinical practices violations.

A first of its kind Lyme disease vaccine trial ran into a road block last weekend as the developers announced they had discontinued the study for about half of the thousands of participants in the U.S. — including those on Martha’s Vineyard.

Organizers of a first-of-its-kind Lyme disease vaccine trial on Martha’s Vineyard are still looking for signups, after an initial wave of recruitment has slowed down in recent months.

Just as medical professionals on the Vineyard are feeling encouraged by the start of a Lyme vaccine trial, Island doctors are reporting numerous instances of itchy, painful rashes caused by lone star tick larvae in so-called “tick bombs.”