Abstract：
Ixodes ricinus is a vector of several pathogens of public health interest. While forests are the primary habitat for I. ricinus, its abundance and infection prevalence are expected to vary within forest stands. This study assesses the spatio-temporal variations in tick abundance and infection prevalence with three pathogens in and around a peri-urban forest where human exposure is high. Ticks were sampled multiple times in 2016 and 2018 in multiple locations with a diversity of undergrowth, using the consecutive drags method. Three zoonotic pathogens were screened for, Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Coxiella burnetii, and Francisella tularensis. The influence of season, type of site and micro-environmental factors on tick abundance were assessed with negative binomial generalized linear mixed-effects models. We collected 1642 nymphs and 181 adult ticks. Ticks were most abundant in the spring, in warmer temperatures, and where undergrowth was higher. Sites with vegetation unaffected by human presence had higher abundance of ticks. Forest undergrowth type and height were significant predictors of the level of tick abundance in a forest. The consecutive drags method is expected to provide more precise estimates of tick abundance, presumably through more varied contacts with foliage. Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. prevalence was estimated from pooled ticks at 5.33%, C. burnetii was detected in six pools and F. tularensis was not detected. Borrelia afzelii was the dominant B. burgdorferi genospecies. Tick abundance and B. burgdorferi s.l. infection prevalence were lower than other estimates in Belgian forests.
摘要：
蓖麻是几种具有公共卫生意义的病原体的媒介。虽然森林是蓖麻的主要栖息地，它的丰度和感染率预计在林分中会有所不同。这项研究评估了人类暴露较高的城市周围森林中和周围三种病原体的tick虫丰度和感染流行率的时空变化。2016年和2018年在多个地方多次采样了蜱虫，这些地方有各种各样的灌木丛，使用连续拖动方法。筛选了三种人畜共患病原体，伯氏疏螺旋体，伯内蒂柯西拉,还有弗朗西塞拉·图拉西斯.季节的影响，用负二项广义线性混合效应模型评估了位点类型和微环境因素对蜱丰度的影响。我们收集了1642只若虫和181只成年蜱。蜱在春天最丰富，在更温暖的温度下，灌木丛较高的地方。植被未受人类影响的地点有更多的蜱。森林灌木丛的类型和高度是森林中tick虫丰度水平的重要预测指标。连续拖动方法有望提供更精确的蜱丰度估计，大概是通过与树叶的更多不同的接触。伯氏疏螺旋体的患病率估计为5.33%，在6个池中检测到F.tularensis。afzelii疏螺旋体是主要的B.burgdorferi种。滴答丰度和B.burgdorferis.l.感染患病率低于比利时森林中的其他估计值。
