Red fox and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in humans: Can predators influence public health?

Haemig, Paul D.; Lithner, Stefan; Luna, Sara Sjöstedt de; Lundkvist, Åke; Waldenström, Jonas; Hansson, Lennart; Arneborn, Malin; Olsén, Björn

doi:10.1080/00365540701805446

Cited by 21 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The negative relationship found in this study between red fox hunting bags and human TBE cases in the succeeding year is in contrast to a study in TBE endemic areas in Sweden, where this relationship was found to be positive [27]. These contradictory findings will need to be clarified in future studies on the specific role of foxes in the epidemiology of TBEV.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 92%

“…Since estimates of wildlife population densities do not exist at the appropriate temporal and spatial resolution, we used hunting bag statistics as proxy for density. We also used hunting bag data of red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ), which was found to be positively correlated (with a time lag of one year) with TBE incidence in humans in Sweden [27]. The explanatory variables investigated in this paper include hunting bag data for red deer, roe deer and red fox, land cover, spring warming increase, and an index of forest fragmentation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Determinants of tick-borne encephalitis in counties of southern Germany, 2001-2008

et al. 2010

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BackgroundTick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus can cause severe symptoms in humans. The incidence of this vector-borne pathogen in humans is characterised by spatial and temporal heterogeneity. To explain the variation in reported human TBE cases per county in southern Germany, we designed a time-lagged, spatially-explicit model that incorporates ecological, environmental, and climatic factors.ResultsWe fitted a logistic regression model to the annual counts of reported human TBE cases in each of 140 counties over an eight year period. The model controlled for spatial autocorrelation and unexplained temporal variation. The occurrence of human TBE was found to be positively correlated with the proportions of broad-leafed, mixed and coniferous forest cover. An index of forest fragmentation was negatively correlated with TBE incidence, suggesting that infection risk is higher in fragmented landscapes. The results contradict previous evidence regarding the relevance of a specific spring-time temperature regime for TBE epidemiology. Hunting bag data of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in the previous year was positively correlated with human TBE incidence, and hunting bag density of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) in the previous year were negatively correlated with human TBE incidence.ConclusionsOur approach suggests that a combination of landscape and climatic variables as well as host-species dynamics influence TBE infection risk in humans. The model was unable to explain some of the temporal variation, specifically the high counts in 2005 and 2006. Factors such as the exposure of humans to infected ticks and forest rodent population dynamics, for which we have no data, are likely to be explanatory factors. Such information is required to identify the determinants of TBE more reliably. Having records of TBE infection sites at a finer scale would also be necessary.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of tick-borne encephalitis in counties of southern Germany, 2001-2008

et al. 2010

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“…Possible examples include top predators such as the wolf (Canis lupus) and European lynx (Lynx lynx), which suppress numbers of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) [16], a species positively correlated with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in humans [17].…”

Section: Roles Of Wildlife In Tick-borne Diseasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Roadside ecology and epidemiology of tick-borne diseases

Haemig

Waldenström

Olsén

2008

Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases

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When humans, pets and livestock walk along roads, they may encounter questing ticks and tick-borne pathogens. A new field of environmental science called road ecology can help researchers study the complex epidemiology of tick-borne diseases in the unique roadside environment. This paper reviews some of the important ways that roads alter the distribution, abundance and behaviour of wildlife species that are involved in the enzootic cycles of tick-borne diseases. Compared to the surrounding landscape, roadways often constitute a different environment and hence there is no assurance that disease risk along roads will be the same as in the adjacent landscape, or that disease control measures taken in the surrounding landscape will work in the adjacent roadway. Since roadways have their own special ecological conditions, are used extensively by the human populace and play strategic roles in community security, we believe that roadways should be one of the habitats where tick-borne diseases are studied. It is amazing that at this late period of human history, epidemiological research along such important corridors has been almost completely ignored.

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“…Like the mustelids, mammals in the Procyonidae, Sciuridae and Canidae are also common on farms and in urban areas (Zeiner et al ., 1990; Cleary & Craven, 2005; Haemig et al ., 2008). Originally, the idea of raccoons ( Procyon lotor ) and 13‐lined ground squirrels ( Spermophilus tridecemlineatus ) as potential transmitters of AI viruses was evaluated in experimental infections which resulted in AI positive trachea aspirates from 13‐lined ground squirrels for up to 9 dpi and the seroconversion of a single raccoon (Bailey, 1983).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A concurrent serological survey reported evidence of LPAI infection in raccoons trapped in three US states: Wyoming, Colorado and Maryland (Hall et al ., 2008a). Red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ) frequent rural and urban habitats (Reperant et al ., 2008) and their proximity to humans has recently been identified as a potential risk factor for tick‐borne encephalitis outbreaks in humans (Haemig et al ., 2008). Their proximity to humans has recently been identified as a potential risk factor for tick‐borne encephalitis outbreaks in humans (Haemig et al ., 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring exposure to avian influenza viruses in wild mammals

et al. 2009

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1. Avian influenza (AI) viruses primarily circulate in wild waterfowl populations and are occasionally transmitted to domestic poultry flocks. However, the possible roles of other wildlife species, such as wild mammals, in AI virus ecology have not been adequately addressed. 2. Due to their habitat and behaviour, many wild mammals may be capable of transmitting pathogens among wild and domestic populations. Exposure to AI viruses has been reported in an array of wild and domestic animals. The presence of wild mammals on farms has been identified as a risk factor for at least one poultry AI outbreak in North America. These reports suggest the need for seroprevalence studies examining the exposure of wild mammals to AI viruses. 3. Serological tests are routinely used to assess domestic poultry, domestic swine and human exposure to influenza A viruses, but these tests have not been validated for use in wild mammals. As such, some of these protocols may require adjustments or may be inappropriate for use in serology testing of wild mammals. Herein, we review these serological techniques and evaluate their potential usefulness in AI surveillance of wild mammals. We call for care to be taken when applying serological tests outside their original area of validation, and for continued assay verification for multiple species and virus strains.

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Red fox and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in humans: Can predators influence public health?

Cited by 21 publications

References 22 publications

Determinants of tick-borne encephalitis in counties of southern Germany, 2001-2008

Determinants of tick-borne encephalitis in counties of southern Germany, 2001-2008

Roadside ecology and epidemiology of tick-borne diseases

Monitoring exposure to avian influenza viruses in wild mammals

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