Vertical distribution of the tick Ixodes ricinus and tick-borne pathogens in the Northern Moravian mountaines correlated with climate warming (Jeseníky mts., Czech Republic)

0334903 - BC 2010 RIV CZ eng J - Journal Article
Daniel, M. - Materna, J. - Hönig, Václav - Metelka, L. - Danielová, V. - Harčarik, J. - Kliegrová, S. - Grubhoffer, Libor
Vertical distribution of the tick Ixodes ricinus and tick-borne pathogens in the Northern Moravian mountaines correlated with climate warming (Jeseníky mts., Czech Republic).
Central European Journal of Public Health. Roč. 17, č. 3 (2009), s. 139-145. ISSN 1210-7778. E-ISSN 1803-1048
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT(CZ) LC06009
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60220518
Keywords : Ixodes ricinus * Borrelia burgdorferi genospecies * tick-borne encephalitis virus * vertical distribution * climate warming
Subject RIV: FN - Epidemiology, Contagious Diseases ; Clinical Immunology

Vertical distribution of the Ixodes ricinus tick, tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. was studied in Jeseníky Mts. Altogether 1,253 specimens of all tick stages (607 larvae, 614 nymphs, 8 females and 24 males) were collected at altitudes 990–1,300 m a.s.l. Altogether 1,207 ticks (8 females, 24 males, 568 nymphs and 607 larvae) were tested for the presence of TBEV and B. burgdorferi s.l. None of the samples contained TBEV, 35 samples (6% of adult ticks, 5% of nymphs, 0.7% of larvae) were positive for B. burgdorferi s.l. The most prevalent genospecies were B. afzelii (44%), B. garinii (28%), less frequent were B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (5%), B. valaisiana (3%). The number of ticks and presence of all developmental stages demonstrate occurence of viable local populations. A significant trend of increasing mean air temperatures in the last 3 decades was found at all analyzed meteorological stations (3 in Jeseníky Mts. and 8 stations in other mountains).
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0179512