Lawn mowing frequency in suburban areas has no detectable effect on Borrelia spp. vector Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae)

Lerman, Susannah B.; D’Amico, Vincent

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0214615

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 30 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The lower risk of horticulturist could be explained by specific landscape management in gardens and thus, horticulturists ‘workspace, since the presence of ticks is limited by specific habitat requirements. Reduced tree canopy and residential lawns create poor environments for ticks as well as measurements such as leaf litter removal and > 1 m boarder between lawn and tick infested areas, and therefor decreasing the tick associated risk [ 7 , 38 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tick bites in different professions and regions: pooled cross-sectional study in the focus area Bavaria, Germany

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background As the vector-borne diseases tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and Lyme borreliosis (LB) are common in Germany and transmitted by tick bites, the aim of this study was to assess differences in the number of tick bites in various professions and regions across southern Germany to evaluate the differences in tick-associated risk. Materials and methods The analysis is based on three cross-sectional studies that were conducted in 2016 and 2017 in two real-life settings and in one medical setting in Bavaria. All participants filled in a paper-based questionnaire about their history with tick bites. Only adult participants (≥ 18 years) were included in this study. Results Overall, 3503 individuals (mean age 50.8 ± 15.2 years, median age 53.0 ± 12.2 years, 54.0% female) were included. Of these, 50% worked in an outdoor profession and 56% lived in environs. Around 70% of participants reported at least one previous tick bite. In comparison to indoor workers, forestry workers (OR = 2.50; 95% CI: 1.10–5.68) had the highest risk for a tick bite followed by farmers (OR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.01–1.47). Furthermore, people living in rural areas (OR = 1.97, 95% CI:1.49–2.59) and environs (OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.54–2.55) were twice as likely to have a previous tick bite than people living in urban areas. In general, slightly more tick bites were reported by people living in eastern Bavaria. Conclusion Rising numbers of TBE and LB indicate the need for further prevention strategies, which should focus on outdoor professions with a higher risk and people living in environs and rural areas.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tick bites in different professions and regions: pooled cross-sectional study in the focus area Bavaria, Germany

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Second, concerns about health risks seem to reduce the acceptance of near-natural greenspace management. Information campaigns to resolve (presumed) concerns such as ticks in highly urbanized environments could have a strong effect of the acceptance of biodiversity-friendly greenspace management (Lerman & D'Amico, 2019). In cases where concerns might be well reasoned, for example, when flowering plants increase pollen loads (Jianan et al, 2007), appropriate solutions are needed to avoid conflicts, for example, by reducing the abundance of species with a high allergenic pollen load.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This may compromise the surrounding aesthetic scenery and the perceived appropriateness for recreation (Bjerke, Østdahl, Thrane, & Strumse, 2006;Gobster, Nassauer, Daniel, & Fry, 2007). Furthermore, a wilder appearance of public greenspaces may raise concerns about health risks, such as pollen allergy (Jianan, Zhiyun, Hua, Xiaoke, & Hong, 2007) or ticks (Lerman & D'Amico, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public attitudes toward biodiversity‐friendly greenspace management in Europe

Fischer

Neuenkamp

Lampinen

et al. 2020

CONSERVATION LETTERS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Increasing urbanization worldwide calls for more sustainable urban development. Simultaneously, the global biodiversity crisis accentuates the need of fostering biodiversity within cities. Policies supporting urban nature conservation need to understand people's acceptance of biodiversity‐friendly greenspace management. We surveyed more than 2,000 people in 19 European cities about their attitudes toward near‐natural urban grassland management in public greenspaces, and related their responses to nine sociocultural parameters. Results reveal that people across Europe can support urban biodiversity, yet within the frames of a generally tidy appearance of public greenery. Younger people and those using greenspaces for a greater variety of activities were more likely to favor biodiversity‐friendly greenspace management. Additionally, people who were aware of the meaning of biodiversity and those stating responsibility for biodiversity conservation particularly supported biodiversity‐friendly greenspace management. Our results point at explicit measures like environmental education to increase public acceptance of policies that facilitate nature conservation within cities.

show abstract

“…In human-altered landscapes such as public parks, stronger measures can be employed relative to natural landscapes. Residential lawns were shown to be poor environments for I. scapularis [110], and the reduction of tree canopy cover, thereby increasing sunlight penetration and decreasing humidity, can lead to further reduction in tick activity and survival. Migration of ticks to the maintained areas can be decreased by installing > 1 m wide wood chip, mulch, sand or gravel border between lawn and tick infested areas [111].…”

Section: Landscape Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management Options for Ixodes ricinus-Associated Pathogens: A Review of Prevention Strategies

Černý

Lynn

Hrnková

et al. 2020

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ticks are important human and animal parasites and vectors of many infectious disease agents. Control of tick activity is an effective tool to reduce the risk of contracting tick-transmitted diseases. The castor bean tick (Ixodes ricinus) is the most common tick species in Europe. It is also a vector of the causative agents of Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis, which are two of the most important arthropod-borne diseases in Europe. In recent years, increases in tick activity and incidence of tick-borne diseases have been observed in many European countries. These increases are linked to many ecological and anthropogenic factors such as landscape management, climate change, animal migration, and increased popularity of outdoor activities or changes in land usage. Tick activity is driven by many biotic and abiotic factors, some of which can be effectively managed to decrease risk of tick bites. In the USA, recommendations for landscape management, tick host control, and tick chemical control are well-defined for the applied purpose of reducing tick presence on private property. In Europe, where fewer studies have assessed tick management strategies, the similarity in ecological factors influencing vector presence suggests that approaches that work in USA may also be applicable. In this article we review key factors driving the tick exposure risk in Europe to select those most conducive to management for decreased tick-associated risk.

show abstract

Lawn mowing frequency in suburban areas has no detectable effect on Borrelia spp. vector Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae)

Cited by 7 publications

References 30 publications

Tick bites in different professions and regions: pooled cross-sectional study in the focus area Bavaria, Germany

Tick bites in different professions and regions: pooled cross-sectional study in the focus area Bavaria, Germany

Public attitudes toward biodiversity‐friendly greenspace management in Europe

Management Options for Ixodes ricinus-Associated Pathogens: A Review of Prevention Strategies

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About