Cited by 1,215Vector-borne infectious diseasesViral Infections and VectorsStudy of Mite Species

Driving forces for changes in geographical distribution of Ixodes ricinus ticks in Europe

Open access
Medlock, Jolyon M, Hansford, Kayleigh M, Bormane, Antra, Derdakova, Marketa, Estrada-Peña, Agustín, George, Jean-Claude, Golovljova, Irina, Jaenson, Thomas G T +15 more·2013·Parasites & Vectors

Abstract

Many factors are involved in determining the latitudinal and altitudinal spread of the important tick vector Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) in Europe, as well as in changes in the distribution within its prior endemic zones. This paper builds on published literature and unpublished expert opinion from the VBORNET network with the aim of reviewing the evidence for these changes in Europe and discusses the many climatic, ecological, landscape and anthropogenic drivers. These can be divided into those directly related to climatic change, contributing to an expansion in the tick's geographic range at extremes of altitude in central Europe, and at extremes of latitude in Scandinavia; those related to changes in the distribution of tick hosts, particularly roe deer and other cervids; other ecological changes such as habitat connectivity and changes in land management; and finally, anthropogenically induced changes. These factors are strongly interlinked and often not well quantified. Although a change in climate plays an important role in certain geographic regions, for much of Europe it is non-climatic factors that are becoming increasingly important. How we manage habitats on a landscape scale, and the changes in the distribution and abundance of tick hosts are important considerations during our assessment and management of the public health risks associated with ticks and tick-borne disease issues in 21(st) century Europe. Better understanding and mapping of the spread of I. ricinus (and changes in its abundance) is, however, essential to assess the risk of the spread of infections transmitted by this vector species. Enhanced tick surveillance with harmonized approaches for comparison of data enabling the follow-up of trends at EU level will improve the messages on risk related to tick-borne diseases to policy makers, other stake holders and to the general public.

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  1. Bullová M Lukáň B Peťko Zmeny rozšírenia kliešťa obyčajného Ixodes ricinus v Západných Karpatoch Slovenska pod vplyvom klimatických zmien Ecology and Veterinary medicine VII. 7th International Scientific Conference 2008 Univerzita veterinarskeho lekarstva v Košiciach 82 88
  2. Santos-Silva MM De Sousa R Lopes De Carvalho I Santos A Nuncio S Revive: A Portuguese networking program for the surveillance of ticks and tick-borne diseases International Conference on Ticks and Tick-borne diseases, TTP 8 2011b Poster presentation, CD, Zaragoza, Spain

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Authors
Medlock, J. M., Hansford, K. M., Bormane, A., Derdakova, M., Estrada-Peña, A., George, J.-C., Golovljova, I., Jaenson, T. G. T., Jensen, J.-K., Jensen, P. M., Kazimirova, M., Oteo, J. A., Papa, A., Pfister, K., Plantard, O., Randolph, S. E., Rizzoli, A., Santos-Silva, M. M., Sprong, H., Vial, L., Hendrickx, G., Zeller, H., & Van Bortel, W.
Affiliations
  • Health Protection Agency (GB)
  • National Institute for Health Development (EE)
  • Uppsala University (SE)
  • University of Copenhagen (DK)
  • Hospital San Pedro (ES)
  • Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (GR)
  • Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
  • Oniris (FR)
  • University of Oxford (GB)
  • Fondazione Edmund Mach (IT)
  • National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (NL)
  • Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (FR)
  • Avia-GIS (Belgium) (BE)
  • European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (SE)
Corresponding author
Medlock, Jolyon M
Venue
Parasites & Vectors
Published
2013-01-02
Volume
6
Issue
1
Pages
1-1
ISSN
1756-3305 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2145987003
Cited by
1,215
References
94
Citations by year
2026: 60 · 2025: 74 · 2024: 84 · 2023: 83 · 2022: 94 · 2021: 170 · 2020: 109 · 2019: 96 · 2018: 86 · 2017: 107 · 2016: 80 · 2015: 75 · 2014: 62 · 2013: 35
FWCI
10.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Parasites & Vectors (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • CINECA IRIS Institutional Research Information System (Fondazione Edmund Mach) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Uppsala University Publications (Uppsala University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Agritrop (Cirad) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • Open access LMU (Ludwid Maxmilian's Universitat Munchen) (submittedVersion)
  • Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Rivm (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • European Commission (261504)
  • European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Parasitology › Vector-borne infectious diseases
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Viral Infections and Vectors
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Study of Mite Species
Keywords
Ixodes ricinus, tick-borne diseases, climate change, roe deer, deer, habitat connectivity, land management, anthropogenic factors, tick surveillance, public health risk
MeSH terms
Animals, Europe, Ruminants, Ecosystem, Ixodes, Climate Change, Phylogeography

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