Valuation when baselines are changing: Tick-borne disease risk and recreational choice

2019 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 101119
Author(s):  
Daniel Slunge ◽  
Thomas Sterner ◽  
Wiktor Adamowicz
Keyword(s):  
Disease Risk ◽  
Tick Borne Disease

scholarly journals Invasive honeysuckle eradication reduces tick-borne disease risk by altering host dynamics

2010 ◽  
Vol 107 (43) ◽  
pp. 18523-18527 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. F. Allan ◽  
H. P. Dutra ◽  
L. S. Goessling ◽  
K. Barnett ◽  
J. M. Chase ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Risk ◽  
Tick Borne Disease

Effect of Urbanization on Presence, Abundance, and Coinfection of Bacteria and Protozoa in Ticks in the US Great Plains

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce H Noden ◽  
Megan A Roselli ◽  
Scott R Loss
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Rickettsia Parkeri ◽  
Tick Abundance ◽  
Tick Infection ◽  
Tick Borne Disease ◽  
Microbe Diversity

Abstract Urbanization alters components of natural ecosystems which can affect tick abundance and tick-borne disease prevalence. Likely due to these changes, tick-borne pathogen prevalence has increased in many U.S. urban areas. Despite the growing public health importance of tick-borne diseases, little is known about how they are influenced by urbanization in North America, especially in the central U.S. where several pathogens occur at or near their highest levels of incidence nationally. To determine whether urban development influences tick infection with bacteria and protozoa, we collected ticks at 16 parks across a gradient of urbanization intensity in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA and tested them using a variety of PCR assays. Adult ticks tested positive for Rickettsia parkeri, R. amblyommatis, R. rhiphicephali, ‘Candidatus R. andeanae’, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, E. ewingii, Panola Mountain Ehrlichia, ‘Borrelia lonestari’, Theileria cervi, Babesia spp. Coco, and Cytauxzoon felis. These results indicate the presence of a high diversity of tick-borne bacteria and protozoa across an expanding urban area in the U.S. Great Plains. Although there appeared to be some risk of encountering tick-borne microorganisms across the entire urbanization gradient, E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, and T. cervi-infected ticks and microbe diversity decreased with increasing urbanization intensity. We identified a low rate of coinfection between different microorganisms, with coinfected ticks mainly collected from sites in the least-urbanized areas. This study suggests the need for awareness of tick-borne disease risk throughout urban areas in the central U.S., and highlights a need for studies of tick host habitat use and movement in cities.

GIS tools for tick and tick-borne disease occurrence

Parasitology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 129 (S1) ◽  
pp. S329-S352 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. DANIEL ◽  
J. KOLÁŘ ◽  
P. ZEMAN
Keyword(s):  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Landscape Characterization ◽  
Gis Tools ◽  
Disease Occurrence ◽  
Tick Ecology ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Tick Borne Disease ◽  
Data Location

Geographic information systems (GIS), their fundamental components and technologies are described. GIS is a computer-based system enabling the storage, integration, query, display and analysis of data using information on data location. Further, remote sensing (RS) methods and their application in landscape characterization are described. Landscape pattern analysis, combined with statistical analysis, allows the determination of landscape predictors of disease risk. This makes RS/GIS a powerful set of tools for disease surveillance, enabling the prediction of potential disease outbreaks and targeting intervention programs. The ‘pre-GIS era’ is briefly described including the early mapping of tick distribution, analyses and the display of biogeographical and medical data. The theory of natural focality of diseases (NFD) is explained and its significance in tick-borne diseases (TBD) research is discussed. Many problems of tick ecology and TBD epidemiology and epizootology have been addressed by means of GIS and examples of these studies are presented and discussed.

scholarly journals A 117 year retrospective analysis of Pennsylvania tick community dynamics

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damie Pak ◽  
Steven B. Jacobs ◽  
Joyce M. Sakamoto
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Analysis ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Tick Species ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Dermacentor Variabilis ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Disease Case ◽  
Tick Borne Disease

AbstractBackgroundTick-borne diseases have been increasing at the local, national, and global levels. Researchers studying ticks and tick-borne disease need a thorough knowledge of the pathogens, vectors, and epidemiology of disease spread. Three surveillance approaches are commonly used to provide insight into tick-borne disease risk: human disease case surveillance, active tick surveillance, and passive tick surveillance. Long-term passive surveillance can provide up-to-date data on the spatial variability and temporal dynamics of ectoparasite communities and shed light into the ecology of rarer tick species. We present a retrospective analysis on compiled data of ticks from Pennsylvania over the last 117 years.MethodsWe compiled data from ticks collected during tick surveillance research, and from citizen-based submissions to the Penn State University Department of Entomology (PSUEnt). Specimens were deposited at the PSUEnt arthropod collections that eventually became The Frost Entomological Museum. While most of the specimens were submitted by the public, a subset of the data were collected through active methods (flagging or dragging, or removal of ticks from wildlife). We analyzed all data from 1900-2017 for tick community composition, host associations, and spatio-temporal dynamics.ResultsIn total there were 4,491 submission lots consisting of 7,132 tick specimens. Twenty-four different species were identified, with the large proportion of submissions represented by five tick species. We observed a shift in tick community composition in which the dominant species of tick (Ixodes cookei) was overtaken in abundance byDermacentor variabilisin the early 1990s, and then replaced in abundance byI. scapularis. We analyzed host data and identified overlaps in host range amongst tick species, suggesting potential hubs of pathogen transfer between different tick vectors and their reservoir hosts.ConclusionsWe highlight the importance of long-term passive tick surveillance in investigating the ecology of both common and rare tick species. Information on the geographic distribution, host-association, and seasonality of the tick community can help researchers and health-officials to identify high-risk areas.

Long-Term Study of Borrelia and Babesia Species Distribution in Ixodes Ricinus and Dermacentor Recticulatus Ticks Removed From Humans in Poland, 2016-2019

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata Welc-Falęciak ◽  
Małgorzata Bednarska ◽  
Adrianna Hamera ◽  
Emilia Religa ◽  
Milena Poryszewka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Risk ◽  
Babesia Species ◽  
Term Study ◽  
Important Indicator ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
Questing Ticks ◽  
Tick Borne Disease ◽  
Larger Sample ◽  
Better Than

Abstract Monitoring changes in the prevalence of different Borrelia genospecies/ species in ticks might be an important indicator of risk assessment and of differences in pathogenicity in humans. Furthermore, the evaluation of pathogens in feeding ticks represents the risk of human exposure better than studies on questing ticks. The objective of our study was to assess the prevalence and distribution of Borrelia and Babesia species in ticks removed from humans, in a larger sample collected for several months during four years of studies. We confirmed high Borrelia prevalence, including B. miyamotoi, in ticks removed from humans as well as the shift in Borrelia genospecies/ species frequency of occurrence during the four-year study. Despite the fact that Babesia prevalence was relatively low, the majority of tested isolates are considered to be pathogenic for humans. The results of our study have also shown that Borrelia and Babesia coinfections in ticks are more common in Borrelia-infected ticks. Even if the overall risk of developing Lyme borreliosis after a tick bite in Europe is rather low, the knowledge of prevalence and distribution of Borrelia and Babesia species in ticks might be an important indicator of both tick-borne disease risk and pathogenicity assessment.

The Impacts of Climate Change on Ticks and Tick-Borne Disease Risk

2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 373-388
Author(s):  
Lucy Gilbert
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
External Environment ◽  
Range Shifts ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Theoretical Studies ◽  
Drivers Of Change ◽  
Tick Borne Disease ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

Ticks exist on all continents and carry more zoonotic pathogens than any other type of vector. Ticks spend most of their lives in the external environment away from the host and are thus expected to be affected by changes in climate. Most empirical and theoretical studies demonstrate or predict range shifts or increases in ticks and tick-borne diseases, but there can be a lot of heterogeneity in such predictions. Tick-borne disease systems are complex, and determining whether changes are due to climate change or other drivers can be difficult. Modeling studies can help tease apart and understand the roles of different drivers of change. Predictive models can also be invaluable in projecting changes according to different climate change scenarios. However, validating these models remains challenging, and estimating uncertainty in predictions is essential. Another focus for future research should be assessing the resilience of ticks and tick-borne pathogens to climate change.

scholarly journals Cascading effects of predator activity on tick-borne disease risk

2017 ◽  
Vol 284 (1859) ◽  
pp. 20170453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim R. Hofmeester ◽  
Patrick A. Jansen ◽  
Hendrikus J. Wijnen ◽  
Elena C. Coipan ◽  
Manoj Fonville ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Predator Species ◽  
Cascading Effects ◽  
Path Analyses ◽  
Mammalian Predators ◽  
Tick Borne Disease ◽  
Predator Abundance ◽  
Larval Burden ◽  
Tick Burden

Predators and competitors of vertebrates can in theory reduce the density of infected nymphs (DIN)—an often-used measure of tick-borne disease risk—by lowering the density of reservoir-competent hosts and/or the tick burden on reservoir-competent hosts. We investigated this possible indirect effect of predators by comparing data from 20 forest plots across the Netherlands that varied in predator abundance. In each plot, we measured the density of questing Ixodes ricinus nymphs (DON), DIN for three pathogens, rodent density, the tick burden on rodents and the activity of mammalian predators. We analysed whether rodent density and tick burden on rodents were correlated with predator activity, and how rodent density and tick burden predicted DON and DIN for the three pathogens. We found that larval burden on two rodent species decreased with activity of two predator species, while DON and DIN for all three pathogens increased with larval burden on rodents, as predicted. Path analyses supported an indirect negative correlation of activity of both predator species with DON and DIN. Our results suggest that predators can indeed lower the number of ticks feeding on reservoir-competent hosts, which implies that changes in predator abundance may have cascading effects on tick-borne disease risk.

Identification ofBorrelia bissettiiinIxodes scapularisticks from New Brunswick, Canada

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-161
Author(s):  
Julie Lewis ◽  
Vett K. Lloyd
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
New Brunswick ◽  
Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Tick Borne Disease ◽  
Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Stricto ◽  
Lyme Disease Risk

Lyme disease is a tick-borne disease that is emerging in Canada. The disease is caused by spirochetes of the Lyme borreliosis group, which is expanding as new species are discovered. In Canada, Lyme disease risk has so far been assessed primarily by detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto. Of Ixodes scapularis ticks collected between 2014 and 2016 in New Brunswick, Canada, 7 were shown to be infected with Borrelia bissettii by nested PCR and sequencing of 5 B. bissettii genes. Since different Borrelia species are associated with different clinical manifestations and are not detected with the same diagnostic tests, the identification of a previously undocumented or underreported pathogenic Borrelia species has important implications for public and veterinary medicine.

scholarly journals Interacting effects of wildlife loss and climate on ticks and tick-borne disease

2017 ◽  
Vol 284 (1862) ◽  
pp. 20170475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgia Titcomb ◽  
Brian F. Allan ◽  
Tyler Ainsworth ◽  
Lauren Henson ◽  
Tyler Hedlund ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tick Species ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Zoonotic Disease ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Disease Dynamics ◽  
Large Herbivore ◽  
Tick Abundance ◽  
Pathogen Prevalence ◽  
Tick Borne Disease

Both large-wildlife loss and climatic changes can independently influence the prevalence and distribution of zoonotic disease. Given growing evidence that wildlife loss often has stronger community-level effects in low-productivity areas, we hypothesized that these perturbations would have interactive effects on disease risk. We experimentally tested this hypothesis by measuring tick abundance and the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens ( Coxiella burnetii and Rickettsia spp . ) within long-term, size-selective, large-herbivore exclosures replicated across a precipitation gradient in East Africa. Total wildlife exclusion increased total tick abundance by 130% (mesic sites) to 225% (dry, low-productivity sites), demonstrating a significant interaction of defaunation and aridity on tick abundance. When differing degrees of exclusion were tested for a subset of months, total tick abundance increased from 170% (only mega-herbivores excluded) to 360% (all large wildlife excluded). Wildlife exclusion differentially affected the abundance of the three dominant tick species, and this effect varied strongly over time, likely due to differences among species in their host associations, seasonality, and other ecological characteristics. Pathogen prevalence did not differ across wildlife exclusion treatments, rainfall levels, or tick species, suggesting that exposure risk will respond to defaunation and climate change in proportion to total tick abundance. These findings demonstrate interacting effects of defaunation and aridity that increase disease risk, and they highlight the need to incorporate ecological context when predicting effects of wildlife loss on zoonotic disease dynamics.

scholarly journals The Contribution of Wildlife Hosts to the Rise of Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases in North America

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean I Tsao ◽  
Sarah A Hamer ◽  
Seungeun Han ◽  
Jennifer L Sidge ◽  
Graham J Hickling
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Human Dimensions ◽  
Dynamic Component ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Host Interactions ◽  
Human Dimensions Of Wildlife ◽  
Natural Movement ◽  
Disease Risks ◽  
Tick Borne Disease

Abstract Wildlife vertebrate hosts are integral to enzootic cycles of tick-borne pathogens, and in some cases have played key roles in the recent rise of ticks and tick-borne diseases in North America. In this forum article, we highlight roles that wildlife hosts play in the maintenance and transmission of zoonotic, companion animal, livestock, and wildlife tick-borne pathogens. We begin by illustrating how wildlife contribute directly and indirectly to the increase and geographic expansion of ticks and their associated pathogens. Wildlife provide blood meals for tick growth and reproduction; serve as pathogen reservoirs; and can disperse ticks and pathogens—either through natural movement (e.g., avian migration) or through human-facilitated movement (e.g., wildlife translocations and trade). We then discuss opportunities to manage tick-borne disease through actions directed at wildlife hosts. To conclude, we highlight key gaps in our understanding of the ecology of tick–host interactions, emphasizing that wildlife host communities are themselves a very dynamic component of tick–pathogen–host systems and therefore complicate management of tick-borne diseases, and should be taken into account when considering host-targeted approaches. Effective management of wildlife to reduce tick-borne disease risk further requires consideration of the ‘human dimensions’ of wildlife management. This includes understanding the public’s diverse views and values about wildlife and wildlife impacts—including the perceived role of wildlife in fostering tick-borne diseases. Public health agencies should capitalize on the expertise of wildlife agencies when developing strategies to reduce tick-borne disease risks.

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