Tick infestation on medium–large-sized mammalian hosts: are all equally suitable to Ixodes ricinus adults?

Mysterud, Atle; Hügli, Christian; Viljugrein, Hildegunn

doi:10.1186/s13071-021-04775-6

Cited by 26 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…3 a) [ 92 – 95 ]. Although previous studies have found red foxes to be suitable hosts for ticks in Europe [ 96 , 97 ], they were not considered suitable hosts in a recent study from Norway [ 93 ]. Mountain hare density had a negative effect on I. ricinus presence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting habitat suitability for Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus ticks in Finland

et al. 2022

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Background Ticks are responsible for transmitting several notable pathogens worldwide. Finland lies in a zone where two human-biting tick species co-occur: Ixodesricinus and Ixodespersulcatus. Tick densities have increased in boreal regions worldwide during past decades, and tick-borne pathogens have been identified as one of the major threats to public health in the face of climate change. Methods We used species distribution modelling techniques to predict the distributions of I.ricinus and I.persulcatus, using aggregated historical data from 2014 to 2020 and new tick occurrence data from 2021. By aiming to fill the gaps in tick occurrence data, we created a new sampling strategy across Finland. We also screened for tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and Borrelia from the newly collected ticks. Climate, land use and vegetation data, and population densities of the tick hosts were used in various combinations on four data sets to estimate tick species’ distributions across mainland Finland with a 1-km resolution. Results In the 2021 survey, 89 new locations were sampled of which 25 new presences and 63 absences were found for I.ricinus and one new presence and 88 absences for I.persulcatus. A total of 502 ticks were collected and analysed; no ticks were positive for TBEV, while 56 (47%) of the 120 pools, including adult, nymph, and larva pools, were positive for Borrelia (minimum infection rate 11.2%, respectively). Our prediction results demonstrate that two combined predictor data sets based on ensemble mean models yielded the highest predictive accuracy for both I.ricinus (AUC = 0.91, 0.94) and I.persulcatus (AUC = 0.93, 0.96). The suitable habitats for I.ricinus were determined by higher relative humidity, air temperature, precipitation sum, and middle-infrared reflectance levels and higher densities of white-tailed deer, European hare, and red fox. For I.persulcatus, locations with greater precipitation and air temperature and higher white-tailed deer, roe deer, and mountain hare densities were associated with higher occurrence probabilities. Suitable habitats for I.ricinus ranged from southern Finland up to Central Ostrobothnia and North Karelia, excluding areas in Ostrobothnia and Pirkanmaa. For I.persulcatus, suitable areas were located along the western coast from Ostrobothnia to southern Lapland, in North Karelia, North Savo, Kainuu, and areas in Pirkanmaa and Päijät-Häme. Conclusions This is the first study conducted in Finland that estimates potential tick species distributions using environmental and host data. Our results can be utilized in vector control strategies, as supporting material in recommendations issued by public health authorities, and as predictor data for modelling the risk for tick-borne diseases.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting habitat suitability for Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus ticks in Finland

et al. 2022

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“…Furthermore, we identified two new species for which data were lacking, fallow deer and western European hedgehog. In recent years, some papers have been published regarding some of these species, which we either included in our meta‐analysis (Coipan et al, 2018; Jahfari et al, 2017; e.g., Mysterud et al, 2015) or which did not fulfill our selection criteria (e.g., Dziemian et al, 2015; Fabri et al, 2021; Furness & Furness, 2018; Hofmeester et al, 2018; Marsot et al, 2012; Mysterud et al, 2021). In addition, our knowledge on infection prevalence of feeding I. ricinus with A. phagocytophilum is especially limited, with only data for 19 vertebrate host species (of the 77 species included in this study).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The circulation of Anaplasma phagocytophilum ecotypes is associated with community composition of vertebrate hosts

et al. 2022

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Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a tick-borne pathogen that has been detected in many tick and vertebrate species. It is among the most widespread tick-borne pathogens in animals in Europe. The bacterium can be genetically divided into four ecotypes, which are linked to distinct but overlapping host species. However, knowledge about the transmission dynamics of the enzootic cycles of the different ecotypes is limited. Here, we quantified the link between the ecotypes of A. phagocytophilum, the different life stages of the tick Ixodes ricinus, and vertebrate host groups through a meta-analysis. We extracted data on the mean I. ricinus burden and the A. phagocytophilum infection prevalence in both hosts and feeding I. ricinus from 197 papers on 77 wildlife species. With this information, we modeled the relative importance of different host taxonomic groups for the circulation of the different ecotypes of A. phagocytophilum in a theoretical assemblage of hosts with varying presence of red deer (Cervus elaphus) and densities of small mammals. We showed that the composition of the vertebrate community affects the relative abundance of different ecotypes of A. phagocytophilum in the different life stages of I. ricinus. The presence of red deer is likely to increase the infection prevalence of Ecotype 1 in ticks, while small mammal densities drive the prevalence in ticks of mainly Ecotype 3, and to a lesser extent Ecotype 1. In Europe, vertebrate communities are changing, with an increase in red deer abundance and changes in the population dynamics of small mammals. Our results suggest that these changes could imply an increase in the circulation of A. phagocytophilum and thus an increase in the risk for public and veterinary health.

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“…), and various forbs and graminids (Gramineae). Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) are abundant and the main hosts for adult I. ricinus ticks in this ecosystem (Mysterud et al 2021).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Individual heterogeneity in ixodid tick infestation and prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in a northern community of small mammalian hosts

Lindsø

Anders

Viljugrein

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Heterogeneous aggregation of parasites between individual hosts is common and regarded as an important factor in understanding transmission dynamics of vector-borne diseases. Lyme disease is vectored by generalist tick species, yet we have a limited understanding of how individual heterogeneities within small mammal host populations affect aggregation of ticks and likelihood of infection. Male hosts often have higher parasite and infection levels than females, but whether this is linked to sexual body size dimorphism remains uncertain. Here we analysed how host species, sex, and body mass influenced Ixodes ricinus tick infestations and the infection prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) in three species of small mammals involved in the enzootic transmission cycle of Lyme disease in Norway from 2018 to 2022. Larval and nymphal ticks were found on 98% and 34% of all individual hosts, respectively. In bank voles and wood mice, both larval and nymphal tick infestation and infection probability increased with body mass, and it increased more with mass for males than for females. In the common shrew, there was no marked sex difference and a weaker increase in tick burden with body mass, infection probability peaked at lower body mass, and females were more likely to be infected than males. Sex-biases in infestation did not correspond with level of sexual body mass dimorphism across species. This study contributes to our understanding of how individual heterogeneity among small mammalian hosts influences I. ricinus tick aggregation and prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. at northern latitudes.

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Tick infestation on medium–large-sized mammalian hosts: are all equally suitable to Ixodes ricinus adults?

Cited by 26 publications

References 29 publications

Predicting habitat suitability for Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus ticks in Finland

Predicting habitat suitability for Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus ticks in Finland

The circulation of Anaplasma phagocytophilum ecotypes is associated with community composition of vertebrate hosts

Individual heterogeneity in ixodid tick infestation and prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in a northern community of small mammalian hosts

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