Title |
Tick infestation risk and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. infection-induced increase in host-finding efficacy of female Ixodes ricinus under natural conditions
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Published in |
Experimental and Applied Acarology, February 2008
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DOI | 10.1007/s10493-008-9131-4 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Michael K. Faulde, Richard G. Robbins |
Abstract |
An investigation of the risk of human tick infestation, together with the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. infection, was conducted in a sylvatic habitat in western Germany to provide data needed for future risk-benefit evaluations of acaricides used for clothing impregnation. Additionally, data were collected on behavioural changes in Borrelia burgdorferi s.l.-infected adult female I. ricinus ticks and the possible impact of such changes on host-finding efficacy. The risk of I. ricinus-infestation was determined by collecting from the protective clothing of volunteers and by dragging in known tick-infested sites in the Kühkopf Mountain area, Koblenz, Germany, from June through October 2006. The overall tick infestation rate per person per hour was 7.4+/-5.5, with the following sex- and stage-specific differences: males 0.32+/-0.37, females 1.1+/-1.2, nymphs 3.6+/-4.4, larvae 2.4+/-3.5. Concurrent dragging revealed an average 19.4+/-16.2 times higher infestation rate as well as a markedly lower infection rate with borreliae in adult I. ricinus ticks when compared to ticks collected from exposed human volunteers. Although the difference in infection rates was statistically significant (P<0.023) only in adult female ticks, our data indicate that B. burgdorferi s.l. infection may increase host-finding efficacy in adult I. ricinus. The overall exposure risk was 1.0 B. burgdorferi s.l.-infected ticks per person per hour of exposure, or 0.25 ticks per 100 m walking distance in the study area. |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 1 | 2% |
Colombia | 1 | 2% |
Unknown | 45 | 96% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 11 | 23% |
Researcher | 11 | 23% |
Professor > Associate Professor | 4 | 9% |
Student > Master | 4 | 9% |
Student > Bachelor | 3 | 6% |
Other | 8 | 17% |
Unknown | 6 | 13% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 22 | 47% |
Veterinary Science and Veterinary Medicine | 4 | 9% |
Environmental Science | 4 | 9% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 3 | 6% |
Arts and Humanities | 1 | 2% |
Other | 7 | 15% |
Unknown | 6 | 13% |