Tick infestation in bank voles from East Anglia

Abstract

Bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) are widespread and abundant in the western half of Eurasia, including Great Britain. These small rodents often come into contact with domestic animals and/or humans, either directly or indirectly, and thus are an interface between sylvatic and domestic cycles for zoonotic organisms. Bank voles were live-trapped and inspected for ticks in Cambridgeshire, Essex and Suffolk from June 1999 to April 2000. Infested voles hosted between 1 and 10 ticks. Larvae were the most frequent stage. Overall prevalence estimate of tick infestation was 14.5% (95% C.I. : 8.3% to 20.7%). Prevalence estimates fluctuated with seasons. Two tick species were identified : Ixodes ricinus (larvae only) and Ixodes trianguliceps (all three stages). The aggregated distribution of ticks on their hosts suggests that co-feeding transmission of tick-borne pathogens may happen in British bank voles. Further investigations are required to improve our knowledge and understanding of the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases in East Anglia.