scholarly journals Variations in Ixodes ricinus Density and Borrelia Infections Associated with Cattle Introduced into a Woodland in The Netherlands

2008 ◽  
Vol 74 (23) ◽  
pp. 7138-7144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fedor Gassner ◽  
Patrick Verbaarschot ◽  
Renate C. Smallegange ◽  
Jeroen Spitzen ◽  
Sipke E. Van Wieren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Ixodes Ricinus ◽  
Fragment Length Polymorphism ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Large Herbivores ◽  
Mark Release Recapture ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Tick Burden

ABSTRACT The effect of introduced large herbivores on the abundance of Ixodes ricinus ticks and their Borrelia infections was studied in a natural woodland in The Netherlands. Oak and pine plots, either ungrazed or grazed by cattle, were selected. Ticks were collected weekly by blanket dragging. Borrelia infections were determined by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Rodent densities were estimated using mark-release-recapture methods. On occasion, the cattle were inspected for tick infestations. Meteorological data were recorded for each habitat. Significantly more ticks were collected in the ungrazed woodland than in the grazed woodland. The ungrazed oak habitat had higher tick densities than the pine habitat, while in the grazed habitats, tick densities were similar. Borrelia infection rates ranged from zero in larvae to 26% in nymphs to 33% in adult ticks, and B. afzelii, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. garinii, and B. valaisiana were the species involved. Coinfections were found in five ticks. There was no effect of the presence of cattle on Borrelia infections in the ticks. In the ungrazed area, Borrelia infections in nymphs were significantly higher in the oak habitat than in the pine habitat. More mice were captured in the ungrazed area, and these had a significantly higher tick burden than mice from the grazed area. Tick burden on cattle was low. The results suggest that grazing has a negative effect on small rodents as well as on ticks but not on Borrelia infections. Implications of these results for management of woodland reserves and risk of Lyme disease are discussed.

scholarly journals Longitudinal Analysis of Tick Densities and Borrelia, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia Infections of Ixodes ricinus Ticks in Different Habitat Areas in The Netherlands

2006 ◽  
Vol 72 (12) ◽  
pp. 7594-7601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter R. Wielinga ◽  
Cor Gaasenbeek ◽  
Manoj Fonville ◽  
Albert de Boer ◽  
Ankje de Vries ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Selective Advantage ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Multiple Infections ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Tick Density ◽  
Borrelia Lusitaniae ◽  
The City ◽  
City Park

ABSTRACT From 2000 to 2004, ticks were collected by dragging a blanket in four habitat areas in The Netherlands: dunes, heather, forest, and a city park. Tick densities were calculated, and infection with Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species was investigated by reverse line blot analysis. The lowest tick density was observed in the heather area (1 to 8/100 m2). In the oak forest and city park, the tick densities ranged from 26 to 45/100 m2. The highest tick density was found in the dune area (139 to 551/100 m2). The infection rates varied significantly for the four study areas and years, ranging from 0.8 to 11. 5% for Borrelia spp. and 1 to 16% for Ehrlichia or Anaplasma (Ehrlichia/Anaplasma) spp. Borrelia infection rates were highest in the dunes, followed by the forest, the city park, and heather area. In contrast, Ehrlichia/Anaplasma was found most often in the forest and less often in the city park. The following Borrelia species were found: Borrelia sensu lato strains not identified to the species level (2.5%), B. afzelii (2.5%), B. valaisiana (0.9%), B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (0.13%), and B. garinii (0.13%). For Ehrlichia/Anaplasma species, Ehrlichia and Anaplasma spp. not identified to the species level (2.5%), Anaplasma schotti variant (3.5%), Anaplasma phagocytophilum variant (0.3%), and Ehrlichia canis (0.19%) were found. E. canis is reported for the first time in ticks in The Netherlands in this study. Borrelia lusitaniae, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, and the human granylocytic anaplasmosis agent were not detected. About 1.6% of the ticks were infected with both Borrelia and Ehrlichia/Anaplasma, which was higher than the frequency predicted from the individual infection rates, suggesting hosts with multiple infections or a possible selective advantage of coinfection.

scholarly journals Mandatory Audit Firm Rotation for Listed Companies: The Effects in the Netherlands

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 937-966
Author(s):  
Bas de Jong ◽  
Steven Hijink ◽  
Lars in ’t Veld
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
First Year ◽  
Financial Reports ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Mandatory Audit Firm Rotation

AbstractThe Audit Regulation was adopted in 2014 to address many of the perceived failings in the market for statutory audits. It introduced mandatory audit firm rotation for public-interest entities, including listed companies, as of 17 June 2020/2023. Mandatory audit firm rotation was also considered by the Dutch legislator in 2012. Therefore, many Dutch listed companies had already switched audit firm in anticipation of the national requirement. In this article, we investigate the effects of mandatory audit firm rotation in the Netherlands by examining the financial reports of Dutch listed firms over the financial years 2012–2016 and by conducting a survey among stakeholders. We conclude that there is broad support for mandatory audit firm rotation in the Netherlands. Although mandatory audit firm rotation was seen as controversial at the time of adoption, it is now considered desirable by various stakeholders, including auditors themselves. However, mandatory audit firm rotation appears to have had some adverse effects. Most notably, our study shows a higher probability of errors in first year audits. The discount in audit fees provided by audit firms to lucrative larger public-interest entities for first year audits—the trophy client effect—may exacerbate the negative effect on audit quality. The Audit Regulation’s goals to improve the market for statutory audits have not been met so far.

Infestation of sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) resident in the Northeastern Poland by Ixodes ricinus (L.) ticks and their infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato

2007 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicja Gryczyńska-Siemiątkowska ◽  
Alicja Siedlecka ◽  
Joanna Stańczak ◽  
Miłosława Barkowska
Keyword(s):  
Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽  
Ixodes Ricinus ◽  
Tick Infestation ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Lato ◽  
Passerine Birds ◽  
Northeastern Poland ◽  
Lacerta Agilis ◽  
Etiological Agents ◽  
Age And Sex

AbstractSand lizards (Lacerta agilis) were trapped and examined for ticks from May to September in 2002 and 2003 in Northeastern Poland. A total of 233 Ixodes ricinus (L.) ticks (76 larvae and 157 nymphs) was found on 31 of 235 captured lizards (13.2%). The tick infestation is relatively low compared to that of mammals and passerine birds from the same area (Siński et al. 2006, Gryczyńska et al. 2002). Tick infestation depended on the month of capture, being the highest in spring. In autumn no ticks were recorded on any of the captured lizards. The oldest lizards carried the highest number of ticks but no differences related to sex of the host were found. All the collected ticks were analysed by PCR for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the etiological agents of Lyme disease. Spirochetes were detected in 11 out of 233 (4.7%) ticks tested. Genetic analysis confirmed that the spirochetes are members of the Borrelia afzelii, B. garinii and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto genospecies. Mixed infection were not detected. The prevalence of infection was analysed in relation to months of the capture, age and sex of the lizards, but differences were not statistically significant. The obtained results suggest that lizards are probably not B. burgdorferi reservoirs, but further studies are required to confirm this.

Infection rates of Borrelia burgdorferi in different instars of Ixodes ricinus ticks from the Dutch North Sea Island of Ameland

1994 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 531-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Rijpkema ◽  
J. Nieuwenhuijs ◽  
F. F. J. Franssen ◽  
F. Jongejan
Keyword(s):  
Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽  
North Sea ◽  
Ixodes Ricinus ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Ixodes Ricinus Ticks

scholarly journals Formal and informal social participation of the ‘young-old’ in The Netherlands in 1992 and 2002

2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 445-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARJOLEIN BROESE VAN GROENOU ◽  
DORLY J. H. DEEG
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Religious Involvement ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Volunteer Work ◽  
Cohort Differences ◽  
Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Using Data

ABSTRACTThe study compares the formal and informal social participation of 60–69 year olds in The Netherlands in 1992 and 2002, and examines which attributes of the two cohorts favour social participation. Using data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, it was found that cohort differences in formal participation (as members of organisations, in volunteer work and in religious organisations) and in informal participation (having a large social network, and in cultural and recreational activities) associated with cohort differences in individual characteristics (level of education, health, employment status and marital status). Descriptive analyses showed an increase between 1992 and 2002 in all forms of participation except religious involvement. The 2002 cohort members were more educated and more engaged in employment, but in worse health and had a higher prevalence of divorce than the 1992 cohort members. Logistic regression analyses showed that the positive effect on social participation of the recent cohort's higher educational level was suppressed by the negative effect of their worse health. Being divorced had mixed effects on formal and informal participation, but the difference in the number of divorcees did not explain cohort differences in social participation. Interaction effects showed that the influence of sex and health on volunteer work and religious involvement changed over time. The paper concludes with a discussion of the prospects for higher levels of formal and informal social participation among future cohorts of young-older people.

scholarly journals Transmission of Anaplasma phagocytophilum to Ixodes ricinus Ticks from Sheep in the Acute and Post-Acute Phases of Infection

2003 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 2071-2078 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. H. Ogden ◽  
A. N. J. Casey ◽  
Z. Woldehiwet ◽  
N. P. French
Keyword(s):  
Ixodes Ricinus ◽  
Anaplasma Phagocytophilum ◽  
Blood Smear ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Infected Sheep ◽  
North Wales ◽  
Blood Smear Examination ◽  
Ixodes Ricinus Ticks ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Infected Cells

ABSTRACT A total of 60 sheep were exposed to Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection on an enclosed area of Ixodes ricinus-infested pasture in North Wales, United Kingdom, and rapidly acquired acute A. phagocytophilum infections detectable by PCR and blood smear examination. Of the ticks that had engorged in the previous instar on infected sheep, 52% of adult ticks and 28% of nymphs were PCR positive; a significant, 10-fold increase in prevalence compared to that of ticks that engorged on sheep preinfection was observed (P = 0.015). The likelihood that ticks were PCR positive, after feeding on the sheep and molting to the next instar, increased marginally with increasing numbers of infected neutrophils per milliliter of blood of their sheep host (P = 0.068) and increased significantly when they were collected from sheep carrying higher numbers of adult female ticks (P = 0.017), but increasing numbers of feeding nymphs had a significant negative effect on transmission (P = 0.049). The numbers of circulating neutrophils and of infected neutrophils also varied significantly with the numbers of ticks feeding on the sheep when the blood was collected. Our study suggests that ruminants are efficient reservoirs of A. phagocytophilum during the acute and post-acute phases of infection. The risk of ruminant-derived infections may, however, be strongly affected by variations in tick densities, which may influence transmission from acutely infected animals via effects on the numbers of infected cells in the blood and possibly by within-skin modulation of infection.

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