A1 Journal article (refereed)
Temporal dynamics of the tick Ixodes ricinus in northern Europe : epidemiological implications (2017)


Cayol, C., Koskela, E., Mappes, T., Siukkola, A., & Kallio, E. (2017). Temporal dynamics of the tick Ixodes ricinus in northern Europe : epidemiological implications. Parasites and Vectors, 10(1), Article 166. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-017-2112-x


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editors: Cayol, Claire; Koskela, Esa; Mappes, Tapio; Siukkola, Anja; Kallio, Eva

Journal or series: Parasites and Vectors

ISSN: 1756-3305

eISSN: 1756-3305

Publication year: 2017

Volume: 10

Issue number: 1

Article number: 166

Publisher: BioMed Central

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-017-2112-x

Research data link: https://jyx.jyu.fi/dspace/handle/123456789/53330

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/53473


Abstract

Background
Tick-borne pathogens pose an increasing threat to human and veterinary health across the northern hemisphere. While the seasonal activity of ticks is largely determined by climatic conditions, host-population dynamics are also likely to affect tick abundance. Consequently, abundance fluctuations of rodents in northern Europe are expected to be translated into tick dynamics, and can hence potentially affect the circulation of tick-borne pathogens. We quantified and explained the temporal dynamics of the tick Ixodes ricinus in the northernmost part of its European geographical range, by estimating (i) abundance in vegetation and (ii) infestation load in the most common rodent species in the study area, the bank vole Myodes glareolus.

Results
Ixodes ricinus nymphs and adult females, the life stages responsible for the most of tick bites in humans, peaked in May-June and August-September. Larvae and nymphs were simultaneously active in June and abundance of questing larvae and nymphs in the vegetation showed a positive association with bank vole abundance. Moreover, infesting larvae and nymphs were aggregated on bank voles, and the infestation of bank voles with I. ricinus larvae and nymphs was positively associated with bank vole abundance.

Conclusion
Our results indicate early summer and early autumn as periods of increased risk for humans to encounter I. ricinus ticks in boreal urban forests and suggest a 2 years life-cycle for I. ricinus with two cohorts of ticks during the same year. Moreover, we identified a simultaneous activity of larvae and nymphs which allows co-feeding on the rodent host, which in turn supports the transmission of several important zoonotic tick-borne pathogens. Finally, we showed that a high density of the rodent host may enhance the risk that ticks and, potentially, tick-borne pathogens pose to human health.


Keywords: public health; population dynamics

Free keywords: Ixodes ricinus; rodent host; seasonality


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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2017

JUFO rating: 1


Last updated on 2023-10-01 at 16:23