We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Tick abundance and infection with three zoonotic bacteria are heterogeneous in a Belgian peri-urban forest.
- Authors
Rousseau, Raphaël; Mori, Marcella; Kabamba, Benoît; Vanwambeke, Sophie O.
- Abstract
Ixodes ricinus is a vector of several pathogens of public health interest. While forests are the primary habitat for I. ricinus, its abundance and infection prevalence are expected to vary within forest stands. This study assesses the spatio-temporal variations in tick abundance and infection prevalence with three pathogens in and around a peri-urban forest where human exposure is high. Ticks were sampled multiple times in 2016 and 2018 in multiple locations with a diversity of undergrowth, using the consecutive drags method. Three zoonotic pathogens were screened for, Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Coxiella burnetii, and Francisella tularensis. The influence of season, type of site and micro-environmental factors on tick abundance were assessed with negative binomial generalized linear mixed-effects models. We collected 1642 nymphs and 181 adult ticks. Ticks were most abundant in the spring, in warmer temperatures, and where undergrowth was higher. Sites with vegetation unaffected by human presence had higher abundance of ticks. Forest undergrowth type and height were significant predictors of the level of tick abundance in a forest. The consecutive drags method is expected to provide more precise estimates of tick abundance, presumably through more varied contacts with foliage. Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. prevalence was estimated from pooled ticks at 5.33%, C. burnetii was detected in six pools and F. tularensis was not detected. Borrelia afzelii was the dominant B. burgdorferi genospecies. Tick abundance and B. burgdorferi s.l. infection prevalence were lower than other estimates in Belgian forests.
- Subjects
COXIELLA burnetii; CASTOR bean tick; TICKS; FRANCISELLA tularensis; BORRELIA burgdorferi; SPATIO-temporal variation
- Publication
Experimental & Applied Acarology, 2024, Vol 93, Issue 1, p49
- ISSN
0168-8162
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10493-024-00919-2