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Noll M, Wall R, Makepeace BL, Vineer HR. Distribution of ticks in the Western Palearctic: an updated systematic review (2015-2021). Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:141. [PMID: 37095583 PMCID: PMC10127368 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05773-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The distributions of ticks and tick-borne pathogens are thought to have changed rapidly over the last two decades, with their ranges expanding into new regions. This expansion has been driven by a range of environmental and socio-economic factors, including climate change. Spatial modelling is being increasingly used to track the current and future distributions of ticks and tick-borne pathogens and to assess the associated disease risk. However, such analysis is dependent on high-resolution occurrence data for each species. To facilitate such analysis, in this review we have compiled georeferenced tick locations in the Western Palearctic, with a resolution accuracy under 10 km, that were reported between 2015 and 2021 METHODS: The PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched for peer-reviewed papers documenting the distribution of ticks that were published between 2015 and 2021, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The papers were then screened and excluded in accordance with the PRISMA flow chart. Coordinate-referenced tick locations along with information on identification and collection methods were extracted from each eligible publication. Spatial analysis was conducted using R software (version 4.1.2). RESULTS From the 1491 papers identified during the initial search, 124 met the inclusion criteria, and from these, 2267 coordinate-referenced tick records from 33 tick species were included in the final dataset. Over 30% of articles did not record the tick location adequately to meet inclusion criteria, only providing a location name or general location. Among the tick records, Ixodes ricinus had the highest representation (55%), followed by Dermacentor reticulatus (22.1%) and Ixodes frontalis (4.8%). The majority of ticks were collected from vegetation, with only 19.1% collected from hosts. CONCLUSIONS The data presented provides a collection of recent high-resolution, coordinate-referenced tick locations for use in spatial analyses, which in turn can be used in combination with previously collated datasets to analyse the changes in tick distribution and research in the Western Palearctic. In the future it is recommended that, where data privacy rules allow, high-resolution methods are routinely used by researchers to geolocate tick samples and ensure their work can be used to its full potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Noll
- Institute of Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Richard Wall
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Benjamin L Makepeace
- Institute of Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Hannah Rose Vineer
- Institute of Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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Gillingham EL, Hansford KM, Meadows S, Henney J, Wieckowski F, Hernández-Triana LM, Muscat I, Muscat J, Beckert C, Nikolova NI, Cull B, Medlock JM. Ticks on the Channel Islands and implications for public health. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101405. [PMID: 32046929 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The Channel Islands are British Crown dependencies located in the English Channel to the west of the Normandy coast in northern France. Whilst there have been studies investigating tick occurrence and distribution in different habitats on the mainland of the UK and in France, the Channel Islands have been relatively understudied. As such, little is known about whether the sheep tick, Ixodes ricinus, is present, and whether there is a potential risk of Lyme borreliosis on the Channel Islands. To ascertain the presence of I. ricinus on the three largest islands in the archipelago: Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney, surveys of ticks questing in the vegetation and ticks feeding on hosts were undertaken during April and May 2016. Across all three islands, the highest numbers of ticks were found in woodland habitats. Ixodes ricinus was the predominant questing tick species found on Jersey, and Ixodes ventalloi the most common questing tick species on Alderney and Guernsey, with little or no evidence of questing I. ricinus on either island. During field studies on small mammals, I. ricinus was the predominant tick species feeding on Jersey bank voles (Myodes glareolus caesarius), with Ixodes hexagonus the most common species infesting hedgehogs on Guernsey. We propose that the greater diversity of small mammals on Jersey may be important in supporting immature stages of I. ricinus, in contrast to Guernsey and Alderney. Morphological identification of tick species was confirmed by PCR sequencing based on amplification of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit one (cox1) gene (COI DNA barcoding). To date, there have been few records of human tick bites in the Channel Islands, suggesting that the current risk from tick-borne disease may be low, but continued reporting of any human tick bites, along with reporting of cases of Lyme borreliosis will be important for continued assessment of the impact of tick-borne diseases in the Channel Islands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Gillingham
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health, UK.
| | - Kayleigh M Hansford
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health, UK
| | - Scott Meadows
- Howard Davis Farm, la Route de la Trinité, Trinity, JE3 5JP, Jersey
| | - Julia Henney
- Environment Guernsey Ltd, The Old Tobacco Factory, Route De La Ramee, St. Peter Port, GY1 2ET, Guernsey
| | - Filip Wieckowski
- Alderney Wildlife Trust, 51 Victoria Street, St Anne, Alderney, GY93TA, Guernsey
| | - Luis M Hernández-Triana
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Research Group, Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Ivan Muscat
- Jersey General Hospital, The Parade, St Helier, JE1 3QS, Jersey
| | - Joseph Muscat
- Charles University, Opletalova 38, 110 00, Staré Město, Czechia
| | - Clara Beckert
- Charles University, Opletalova 38, 110 00, Staré Město, Czechia
| | - Nadya I Nikolova
- Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Ben Cull
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Jolyon M Medlock
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, UK
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Alfredsson M, Olafsson E, Eydal M, Unnsteinsdottir ER, Hansford K, Wint W, Alexander N, Medlock JM. Surveillance of Ixodes ricinus ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Iceland. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:466. [PMID: 29017579 PMCID: PMC5634879 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2375-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ixodes ricinus is a three-host tick, a principal vector of Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) and one of the main vectors of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus. Iceland is located in the North Atlantic Ocean with subpolar oceanic climate. During the past 3–4 decades, average temperature has increased, supporting more favourable conditions for ticks. Reports of I. ricinus have increased in recent years. If these ticks were able to establish in a changing climate, Iceland may face new threats posed by tick-borne diseases. Methods Active field surveillance by tick flagging was conducted at 111 sites around Iceland from August 2015 to September 2016. Longworth mammal traps were used to trap Apodemus sylvaticus in southwestern and southern Iceland. Surveillance on tick importation by migratory birds was conducted in southeastern Iceland, using bird nets and a Heligoland trap. Vulpes lagopus carcasses from all regions of the country were inspected for ticks. In addition, existing and new passive surveillance data from two institutes have been merged and are presented. Continental probability of presence models were produced. Boosted Regression Trees spatial modelling methods and its predictions were assessed against reported presence. Results By field sampling 26 questing I. ricinus ticks (7 males, 3 females and 16 nymphs) were collected from vegetation from three locations in southern and southeastern Iceland. Four ticks were found on migratory birds at their arrival in May 2016. A total of 52 A. sylvaticus were live-trapped but no ticks were found nor on 315 V. lagopus carcasses. Passive surveillance data collected since 1976, reports further 214 I. ricinus ticks from 202 records, with an increase of submissions in recent years. The continental probability of presence model correctly predicts approximately 75% of the recorded presences, but fails to predict a fairly specific category of recorded presence in areas where the records are probably opportunistic and not likely to lead to establishment. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first finding of questing I. ricinus ticks in Iceland. The species could possibly be established locally in Iceland in low abundance, although no questing larvae have yet been detected to confirm established populations. Submitted tick records have increased recently, which may reflect an increase in exposure, or in interest in ticks. Furthermore, the amount of records on dogs, cats and humans indicate that ticks were acquired locally, presenting a local biting risk. Tick findings on migratory birds highlight a possible route of importation. Obtaining questing larvae is now a priority to confirm that I. ricinus populations are established in Iceland. Further surveys on wild mammals (e.g. Rangifer tarandus), livestock and migratory birds are recommended to better understand their role as potential hosts for I. ricinus. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-017-2375-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Alfredsson
- The Icelandic Institute of Natural History, Urridaholtsstraeti 6-8, 212, Gardabaer, Iceland.
| | - Erling Olafsson
- The Icelandic Institute of Natural History, Urridaholtsstraeti 6-8, 212, Gardabaer, Iceland
| | - Matthias Eydal
- Institute for Experimental Pathology at Keldur, University of Iceland, Keldnavegur 3, 112, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | | | - Kayleigh Hansford
- Emergency Response Department, Medical Entomology Group, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK
| | - William Wint
- Department of Zoology, Environmental Research Group Oxford, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Neil Alexander
- Department of Zoology, Environmental Research Group Oxford, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jolyon M Medlock
- Emergency Response Department, Medical Entomology Group, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK.,NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, PHE Porton Down, Porton Down, Salisbury, UK
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