Ecology and prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks

Ivanovic, Ivana and Stosic Zekic, Marina and Sabljic Ruzic, Eva and Kisek Cerar, Tjasa and Spik Cvitkovic, Vesna and Popovic, Aleksandra and Savic, Sara (2022) Ecology and prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks. ACTA VETERINARIA HUNGARICA, 70 (1). pp. 15-23. ISSN 0236-6290

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Abstract

Weather conditions greatly affect tick population densities and activity, on which depends the occurrence of tick-borne diseases (TBDs). During the spring months from 2017 to 2019, 1,357 specimens of Ixodes ricinus ticks were collected at 9 localities in the vicinity of Novi Sad (Serbia). The number of collected ticks varied considerably among the different sampling sites and years. Also, a statistically significant difference was found between months and observed number of ticks for each stadium. By statistical analysis of tick activity depending on microclimatic conditions, a positive and statistically significant relationship between temperature and the number of ticks for each life stage was established, but not for humidity. Dew had a statistically significant impact only on nymphs but not on adults. The infection rate of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. was the highest in March (46.5–51.2%) and the lowest in May (32.9–34.8%). The highest prevalence was detected in males and the lowest in nymphs. Since there is a positive and statistically significant correlation between tick number and prevalence, the ability to provide weather-based predictions of the seasonal patterns of current tick activity is important for the risk assessment of TBDs such as Lyme borreliosis.

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