Abstract
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.
Highlights
Ticks are important human and animal parasites and vectors of many infectious disease agents
Ixodes ricinus is a vector for multiple tick-borne diseases common in Europe and as a result has has a significant impact on public health
Ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) pose a significant threat to humans and domestic animals in Europe
Summary
Ticks (Ixodida) are the most important vectors of arthropod-borne pathogens in Europe. Ixodes ricinus is a vector for multiple tick-borne diseases common in Europe and as a result has has a significant impact on public health. Precipitation in particular are predicted to become more irregular in Europe, it is likely that tick activity will change correspondingly in the future [18] Another very important ecological determinant for I. ricinus is the presence of suitable hosts. Several studies have shown that human induced changes in local biotopes that lead to greater abundance of tick hosts result in increased tick activity and prevalence of TBPs [12,34,45]. Calendar peaks in nymphal activity and TBEV incidence frequently coincide with peak of mushroom picking period in countries where this activity is a popular leisure activity or a source of occasional income [52,54]
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have