Time trend of clinical cases of Lyme disease in two hospitals in Belgium, 2000–2013

Keukeleire, Mathilde De; Vanwambeke, Sophie; Kabamba, Benoît; Belkhir, Leïla; Philippe, Pierre; Luyasu, Victor; Robert, Annie

doi:10.1186/s12879-017-2841-7

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 22 publications

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“…This tick species is a proven or putative vector of > 25 different viruses and microorganisms, which are known or highly suspected to be potential pathogens of humans [ 1 – 9 ]. In several European countries the numbers of diagnosed cases of tick-borne diseases transmitted by I. ricinus to humans have increased during the last two decades [ 10 – 19 ], but in some regions disease incidence appears not to have increased [ 20 ] or has even declined [ 21 ]. Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and Lyme borrelioses (LB, Lyme disease) are two disease complexes of major medical importance in the Palaearctic and Holarctic regions, respectively.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The importance of wildlife in the ecology and epidemiology of the TBE virus in Sweden: incidence of human TBE correlates with abundance of deer and hares

et al. 2018

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BackgroundTick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is one tick-transmitted disease where the human incidence has increased in some European regions during the last two decades. We aim to find the most important factors causing the increasing incidence of human TBE in Sweden. Based on a review of published data we presume that certain temperature-related variables and the population densities of transmission hosts, i.e. small mammals, and of primary tick maintenance hosts, i.e. cervids and lagomorphs, of the TBE virus vector Ixodes ricinus, are among the potentially most important factors affecting the TBE incidence. Therefore, we compare hunting data of the major tick maintenance hosts and two of their important predators, and four climatic variables with the annual numbers of human cases of neuroinvasive TBE. Data for six Swedish regions where human TBE incidence is high or has recently increased are examined by a time-series analysis. Results from the six regions are combined using a meta-analytical method.ResultsWith a one-year time lag, the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), mountain hare (Lepus timidus) and European hare (Lepus europaeus) showed positive covariance; the Eurasian elk (moose, Alces alces) and fallow deer (Dama dama) negative covariance; whereas the wild boar (Sus scrofa), lynx (Lynx lynx), red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the four climate parameters showed no significant covariance with TBE incidence. All game species combined showed positive covariance.ConclusionsThe epidemiology of TBE varies with time and geography and depends on numerous factors, i.a. climate, virus genotypes, and densities of vectors, tick maintenance hosts and transmission hosts. This study suggests that the increased availability of deer to I. ricinus over large areas of potential tick habitats in southern Sweden increased the density and range of I. ricinus and created new TBEV foci, which resulted in increased incidence of human TBE. New foci may be established by TBE virus-infected birds, or by birds or migrating mammals infested with TBEV-infected ticks. Generally, persistence of TBE virus foci appears to require presence of transmission-competent small mammals, especially mice (Apodemus spp.) or bank voles (Myodes glareolus).Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-3057-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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