Abstract
BackgroundThe significance of tick-borne diseases has increased considerably in recent years. Because of the unique distribution of the tick species Dermacentor reticulatus in Poland, comprising two expanding populations, Eastern and Western that are separated by a Dermacentor-free zone, it is important to conduct studies on the process of tick expansion and emergence of canine babesiosis. The main aim of the current study was to monitor the expansion of D. reticulatus populations from spring 2016 to autumn 2018 to determine (1) the actual geographical range of this tick species, and (2) and the seasonal/annual shift in range limits and changes in distance between Western and Eastern populations of ticks (the size of the non-endemic area).MethodsTicks were collected in spring/autumn during a 3-year study. From each season and year at least three pairs of sites from the Western and Eastern populations were selected. Then the mean distance between paired sites was calculated for each season and year. We collected and analyzed data from veterinary clinics on the number of canine babesiosis cases treated in the clinic during a whole year (2018).ResultsAccordingly, further expansion of the two D. reticulatus populations was recorded, mainly along river basins. Marked colonization of the gap zone was observed, with a mean annual shift in the range of 2.5–10 km and a steadily decreasing distance between the two tick populations. The occurrence of babesiosis in different regions revealed low numbers of cases in Western Poland (19 cases/year) and the gap area (only 7 cases/year) and high incidence (up to 250 cases/1000 dogs) and fatality (total 3.65%) in Central and Eastern Poland. Strong associations were found geographically between tick and babesiosis occurrence and temporally in the seasonal patterns of occurrence of ticks and outbreaks of babesiosis.ConclusionsWe documented the shift in range limits and continued process of colonization of the gap zone accompanied by the emergence of canine babesiosis in the Eastern expansion zone. Updated maps of the distribution of ticks and occurrence of babesiosis in different regions of Poland have allowed us to predict of the emergence of pathogens vectored by D. reticulatus.Graphical Incidence (per 1000 dogs) of canine babesiosis in veterinary clinics by current range of D. reticulatus
Highlights
IntroductionBecause of the unique distribution of the tick species Dermacentor reticulatus in Poland, comprising two expanding populations, Eastern and Western that are separated by a Dermacentor-free zone, it is important to conduct studies on the process of tick expansion and emergence of canine babesiosis
The significance of tick-borne diseases has increased considerably in recent years
In addition to our previous monitoring in 2012–2014 [2], ticks were found in a number of new sites in eight out of 16 voivodeships: Lower Silesia (30 new sites), Kuyavia-Pomerania (6), Lubusz (20), Łódź (29), Mazovia (34), Greater Poland (25), Holy Cross (1) and West Pomerania (7). 5130 ticks were collected, including 2836 females and 2294 males
Summary
Because of the unique distribution of the tick species Dermacentor reticulatus in Poland, comprising two expanding populations, Eastern and Western that are separated by a Dermacentor-free zone, it is important to conduct studies on the process of tick expansion and emergence of canine babesiosis. The easternmost record of the Western population of D. reticulatus was near Kościan (Greater Poland Voivodeship, 61 km from the proximate bank of the Oder River and 129 km from the western border of the country); in the eastern area of Poland, the ticks spread to Rawa Mazowiecka and Rzeczyca (Łódź Voivodeship). The D. reticulatus-free zone (in which only negative sites were recorded) was located at the time in the central parts of the country and covered about 150,000 km, from West Pomerania and Pomerania Voivodeships in Northern Poland, to Opole, Silesia, Lesser Poland and Subcarpatia Voivodeships in Southern Poland [2]
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