Abstract
The sharp rising incidence of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Komi Republic at the North-east of European Russia was recorded last decades. Tick-bite incidence also was grown. Rapid rise of TBE incidence growth and Ixodidae ticks depends on a number of factors, and the impact of climate change being one of them. Ixodes persulcatus ticks is considered as a main vector of TBE in Komi. Our objective is to estimate the influence of air temperature change on the tickbite incidence and Ixodes persulcatus population in Komi. Komi Republic is located near the Polar circle where the northern frontier of Ixodes persulcatus ticks situated and we expected the growth of tick’s population. The number of Komi inhabitants seeking medical care after tick bites in 1992–2014 was considered. Gridded monthly air temperature data with grid size 0.5 degree were recalculated to temperature referred to Komi administrative units. The time series of annual number of tick victims from 1992 till 2014 and model air temperature from 1948 till 2016 for all Komi administrative units were compiled. We analyzed the data on tick-bite incidence in Komi administrative units in relation to changes in local annual average air temperature within the study area. The linear dependence of the tick-bite incidence on air temperature was established when of the tick-bite incidence is represented in logarithm form. The tick population depends not only on temperature but humidity, landcover and hosts. Described areas of Komi belong to humid climate, where precipitations exceed evaporation. Most of the Komi territory is covered by taiga with underwood, grass and bush. Hosts of the first and the major levels are represented by birds and rodents. The dependence of tick-bite incidence and temperature looks like “Malthus’s law”, but the development of population depends on temperature not on time. The exponential growth in the nearest future will ceased and the population will proceed to stable phase. Ticks population in Komi Republic is moving to the North and the air temperature determines the dynamics of population.
Highlights
Tick-borne infections are an increasing threat on healthcare in many countries
We revealed in a strong correlation between the change in the air temperature and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) incidence and the tick-bite incidence in neighbor Komi and Arkhangelsk Oblast of Russia [14, 15]
Visual analysis indicates the linear dependence of the tick-bite incidence on air temperature when of the tick-bite incidence is represented in logarithm form
Summary
Tick-borne infections are an increasing threat on healthcare in many countries. Tick-borne encephalitis (hereinafter — TBE) was included in the list of notifiable diseases in EU in 2012 [3], and since it is notifiable in the most of European countries [4]. Clear growth of TBE cases observed in some regions of northern Europe [7, 12, 13]. There has been a nearly 400% increase of reported cases in European endemic areas over the past 30 years [11]. Rapid rise of TBE incidence growth and Ixodidae ticks (main TBE vector) depends on a number of factors [8, 10], and the impact of climate change being one of them [1, 6, 9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
