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Cited by 97Vector-borne infectious diseasesViral Infections and VectorsStudy of Mite Species

Environmental factors influencing tick densities over seven years in a French suburban forest

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Paul, Richard E. L., Cote, Martine, Le Naour, Evelyne, Bonnet, Sarah I.·2016·Parasites & Vectors
DOI 10.1186/s13071-016-1591-5PMC PMC4884405
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Worldwide changes in socio-economic and environmental factors and the global climate are recognised causes of variation in tick distribution and density. Thus it is of great importance that new studies address the changing risk of infection for exposed populations. In Europe, Ixodes ricinus ticks are the most common vectors of several pathogens impacting veterinary and public health that have colonised suburban habitats. METHODS: This study aimed to evaluate longitudinal I. ricinus questing densities and infection rates over 7 years in a French suburban forested area with high human population density. Ticks were collected in spring yearly between 2008 and 2014 and, out of a total of 8594 collected I. ricinus, a representative subset of adult females (n = 259) were individually examined for the presence of several pathogens via PCR. RESULTS: Nymph densities peaked in 2009-2011, and then declined in 2012-2014. Changes in monthly temperature only had a modest impact on this variation. In contrast, analysis revealed a complex intra-annual relationship between mean nymph density and both concurrent and lagged mean monthly temperatures. The following pathogens were detected in the studied area: Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia helvetica, Babesia venatorum and B. divergens, Francisella tularensis, Borrelia miyamotoi, B. afzelii/valaisiana, B. garinii/lusitaniae and Bartonella spp. CONCLUSION: Our findings reinforce the conclusion that ticks are important vectors of pathogenic microorganisms in suburban forests and suggest that despite complex intra-annual relationships between tick densities and temperature, there is no evidence for a climate-associated increase in infection risk over the 7-year period. Rather, tick densities are likely to be strongly influenced by population density fluctuations in vertebrate host species and wildlife management. Further detailed studies on the impact of climate change on tick population densities are required.

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  • Similar results were obtained in a French study where no evidence was observed for a climate-associated increase in infection risk over the 7-year period.

    “Similar results were obtained in a French study where no evidence was observed for a climate-associated increase in infection risk over the 7-year period [14].”

    From Tick-borne pathogens in ticks collected from dogs, Latvia, 2011–2016 (2019) · cites this paper as [14]

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Authors
Paul, R. E. L., Cote, M., Le Naour, E., & Bonnet, S. I.
Affiliations
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
  • École Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort (FR)
Corresponding author
Bonnet, Sarah I.
ORCID
Venue
Parasites & Vectors
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2016-05-27
Volume
9
Issue
1
Pages
309-309
ISSN
1756-3305 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/s13071-016-1591-5
PMC
PMC4884405
OpenAlex
W2406659305
Cited by
97
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 3
FWCI
11.69
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Parasites & Vectors (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
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 density, questing nymphs, tick-borne pathogens, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia helvetica, Babesia venatorum, Babesia divergens, Francisella tularensis, Borrelia miyamotoi, Bartonella, climate change, suburban forests, wildlife management, host density, infection rate
MeSH terms
Animals, Arachnid Vectors, Babesia, Bartonella, Borrelia, Female, France, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Nymph, Population Density, Rickettsia, Weather, Ixodes, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Forests

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