scholarly journals Lyme disease ecology in a changing world: consensus, uncertainty and critical gaps for improving control

2017 ◽  
Vol 372 (1722) ◽  
pp. 20160117 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Marm Kilpatrick ◽  
Andrew D. M. Dobson ◽  
Taal Levi ◽  
Daniel J. Salkeld ◽  
Andrea Swei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Disease Ecology ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽  
Tick Feeding ◽  
Tick Abundance ◽  
And Control

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in temperate regions of North America, Europe and Asia, and the number of reported cases has increased in many regions as landscapes have been altered. Although there has been extensive work on the ecology and epidemiology of this disease in both Europe and North America, substantial uncertainty exists about fundamental aspects that determine spatial and temporal variation in both disease risk and human incidence, which hamper effective and efficient prevention and control. Here we describe areas of consensus that can be built on, identify areas of uncertainty and outline research needed to fill these gaps to facilitate predictive models of disease risk and the development of novel disease control strategies. Key areas of uncertainty include: (i) the precise influence of deer abundance on tick abundance, (ii) how tick populations are regulated, (iii) assembly of host communities and tick-feeding patterns across different habitats, (iv) reservoir competence of host species, and (v) pathogenicity for humans of different genotypes of Borrelia burgdorferi . Filling these knowledge gaps will improve Lyme disease prevention and control and provide general insights into the drivers and dynamics of this emblematic multi-host–vector-borne zoonotic disease. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Conservation, biodiversity and infectious disease: scientific evidence and policy implications'.

scholarly journals Impact of the experimental removal of lizards on Lyme disease risk

2011 ◽  
Vol 278 (1720) ◽  
pp. 2970-2978 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Swei ◽  
Richard S. Ostfeld ◽  
Robert S. Lane ◽  
Cheryl J. Briggs
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Disease Ecology ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Large Fraction ◽  
Host Community ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Alternate Host ◽  
Experimental Removal ◽  
Tick Infection

The distribution of vector meals in the host community is an important element of understanding and predicting vector-borne disease risk. Lizards (such as the western fence lizard; Sceloporus occidentalis ) play a unique role in Lyme disease ecology in the far-western United States. Lizards rather than mammals serve as the blood meal hosts for a large fraction of larval and nymphal western black-legged ticks ( Ixodes pacificus —the vector for Lyme disease in that region) but are not competent reservoirs for the pathogen, Borrelia burgdorferi . Prior studies have suggested that the net effect of lizards is to reduce risk of human exposure to Lyme disease, a hypothesis that we tested experimentally. Following experimental removal of lizards, we documented incomplete host switching by larval ticks (5.19%) from lizards to other hosts. Larval tick burdens increased on woodrats, a competent reservoir, but not on deer mice, a less competent pathogen reservoir. However, most larvae failed to find an alternate host. This resulted in significantly lower densities of nymphal ticks the following year. Unexpectedly, the removal of reservoir-incompetent lizards did not cause an increase in nymphal tick infection prevalence. The net result of lizard removal was a decrease in the density of infected nymphal ticks, and therefore a decreased risk to humans of Lyme disease. Our results indicate that an incompetent reservoir for a pathogen may, in fact, increase disease risk through the maintenance of higher vector density and therefore, higher density of infected vectors.

Diversifying forest communities may change Lyme disease risk: extra dimension to the dilution effect in Europe

Parasitology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 143 (10) ◽  
pp. 1310-1319 ◽  
Author(s):  
SANNE C. RUYTS ◽  
EVY AMPOORTER ◽  
ELENA C. COIPAN ◽  
LANDER BAETEN ◽  
DIETER HEYLEN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Dilution Effect ◽  
Ixodid Ticks ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Host Diversity ◽  
Pine Stands

SUMMARYLyme disease is caused by bacteria of theBorrelia burgdorferigenospecies complex and transmitted by Ixodid ticks. In North America only one pathogenic genospecies occurs, in Europe there are several. According to the dilution effect hypothesis (DEH), formulated in North America, nymphal infection prevalence (NIP) decreases with increasing host diversity since host species differ in transmission potential. We analysedBorreliainfection in nymphs from 94 forest stands in Belgium, which are part of a diversification gradient with a supposedly related increasing host diversity: from pine stands without to oak stands with a shrub layer. We expected changing tree species and forest structure to increase host diversity and decrease NIP. In contrast with the DEH, NIP did not differ between different forest types. Genospecies diversity however, and presumably also host diversity, was higher in oak than in pine stands. Infected nymphs tended to harbourBorrelia afzeliiinfection more often in pine stands whileBorrelia gariniiandBorrelia burgdorferiss. infection appeared to be more prevalent in oak stands. This has important health consequences, since the latter two cause more severe disease manifestations. We show that the DEH must be nuanced for Europe and should consider the response of multiple pathogenic genospecies.

scholarly journals Effect of Climate Change on Lyme Disease Risk in North America

EcoHealth ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
John S. Brownstein ◽  
Theodore R. Holford ◽  
Durland Fish
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
North America ◽  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Lyme Disease Risk

scholarly journals Lyme Disease

EDIS ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 2006 (20) ◽  
Author(s):  
Phillip E. Kaufman ◽  
Philip G. Koehler ◽  
Jerry F. Butler
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Online Resources ◽  
Reference List ◽  
Master Gardener ◽  
Previous Version ◽  
Fact Sheet ◽  
Primary Vector ◽  
And Control

Revised! ENY-209, a 3-page illustrated fact sheet by P.E. Kaufman, P.G. Koehler, and J.F. Butler, describes the symptoms, treatment, prevention and control of this disease whose primary vector is the black-legged deer tick. This version expands and updates the previous version to include current statistics and recommendations, and adds illustrations, online resources and a reference list. Part of the Master Gardener Handbook. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, August 2006. ENY-209/MG204: Lyme Disease (ufl.edu)

scholarly journals Migratory Sheep Farming Practices in Cauvery Delta Zone in Tamil Nadu

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (01) ◽  
pp. 62-65
Author(s):  
Mahesh Chander ◽  
MS Kannadhasan ◽  
D Bardhan
Keyword(s):  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Farming Practices ◽  
Interview Schedule ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
Cauvery Delta ◽  
And Control

Migratory sheep, due to its movement, poses threat of spreading diseases among small ruminants. Considering this, the study was carried out to identify the focus area of extension intervention among the migratory sheep farmers to disseminate scientifically recommended practices which minimize disease risk and enhance flock health. The study was conducted following ex post fact research design at Venganur village, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu. Using a semi-structured interview schedule, data were personally collected from 30 migratory sheep farmers who were selected purposively. The findings were subjected to focussed group interview involving seven farmers. The results envisaged a wider difference among the farmers from 100 per cent non-adoption of balanced ration to 100.00 per cent adoption of deworming. Therefore, extension interventions need to be intensified to educate the farmers on technologies which help in disease prevention and control.

scholarly journals Global burden of COVID-19: Situational analyis and review

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Addis Adera Gebru ◽  
Tadesse Birhanu ◽  
Eshetu Wendimu ◽  
Agumas Fentahun Ayalew ◽  
Selamawit Mulat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
North America ◽  
South America ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Public Health Burden ◽  
Health Burden ◽  
Online Databases ◽  
Review Period ◽  
The World ◽  
And Control

BACKGROUND: The novel Coronavirus Diseases 2019 (COVID-19) is the major public health burden in the world. The morbidity and mortality of global community due to this disease is dramatically increasing from time to time. OBJECTIVE: This situational analysis is aimed to analysis prevalence, and incidence of COVID-19 and to provide clear information about this disease for the scientific community, stakeholders and healthcare practitioners and decision-makers. METHODS: The literatures were identified by searching the key relevant and officially known online databases: medRxiv, Google scholar and PubMed. The online databases contain archives of most English biomedical journals and scientific papers published online from 31 December to 3 April 2020 were included. After the literature search, articles were screened independently by two reviewers for eligibility. RESULTS: The world continents have confirmed a total of 1,202,320 confirmed COVID-19 cases: (51.2%) in Europe, (27.7%) in North America, (17.9%) in Asia, (1.96%) in South America and at less number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa and Australia which was accounted 0.8% and 0.5%, respectively. However, this review showed that there was significantly increased the confirmed COVID-19 cases by 109,555 in Asia, 8,658 in Africa, 332,866 in North America, 20,269 in South America, 568,894 in Europe, 5,051 in Australia and 1,045,403 in the whole world continent except Antarctica during the review period. The overall results showed that there were 1,098,762 cases and 59,172 deaths have recorded from during the review period. The result zero number of deaths with COVID-19 was observed in 66 countries. CONCLUSION: The review concluded that COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2 is the major public health burden in the world, the morbidity and mortality of global community is dramatically increasing from time to time. Strongly collaboration among all sectors and then design effective prevention and control strategies which include staying home, social/physical distancing, quarantine, testing of suspected patients, isolation and managing of the confirmed cases. Therefore, the world continents countries should have to implement five major COVID-19 prevention and control programmes as soon as possible at community level.

scholarly journals Agricultural Household Response to Avian Influenza Prevention and Control Policies

2007 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert H. Beach ◽  
Christine Poulos ◽  
Subhrendu K. Pattanayak
Keyword(s):  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Trade Restrictions ◽  
Agricultural Household ◽  
Bird Mortality ◽  
Influenza Prevention ◽  
Prevention And Control Measures ◽  
And Control

Recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Asia, Europe, and Africa have caused severe impacts on the poultry sector through bird mortality and culling, as well as resulting trade restrictions and negative demand shocks. Although poultry producers play a major role in preventing and controlling avian influenza, little research has examined the influence of their farm-level decision making on the spread of the disease. In this study, we describe farm behavior under livestock disease risk and discuss data and analyses necessary to generate sound empirical evidence to inform public avian influenza prevention and control measures.

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