Description
There is limited data on the main determinants of exophilic tick abundance at small spatiotemporal scales, where ticks interact with their hosts. However biotic and abiotic variables of micro-environments are essential to determine the distribution of specific niches in an ecological community. These variables are generally not included in modeling systems, and it may represent an obstacle to understand the transmission dynamics of tick-borne pathogens.
Corsica's ecological and climatic diversity, as well as its geographical location in the Mediterranean, make the island a favorable place for the development of many tick species, but also for the introduction of new ones and therefore new pathogens.
This work aims to determine the association of factors having a positive influence on tick population dynamics in order to characterize tick bionomic relationships. It will also provide updated knowledge on the distribution, diversity and prevalence of tick-borne diseases.
Sampling was defined to cover an area adapted to the diversity of island’s biotopes. From march to September 2023, phytosociological surveys were carried out in 4 types of environments (forest, meadow/plain, ecotone, residential border) for each municipality investigated. These surveys, based on the quadrat and transect method, allowed the characterization of micro-environments using 12 variables. Municipalities were investigated at two times, in spring and summer, when tick activity is the highest.
In addition to habitat characterization, ticks were collected in the environment using the tick-dragging method to screen tick species. At the same time, ticks were collected from domestic animals twice a month in 2 slaughterhouses, from the skin of 30 slaughtered cattle. Ticks were also collected from a local riding stable after each tourist ride from April to June 2023.
A total of 275 ticks were collected at the 43 environmental collection points, with 6 species identified: Rhipicephalus bursa (n=123), Ixodes ricinus (n=106), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (n=21), Dermacentor marginatus (n=12), Haemaphisalis punctata (n=4), Hyalomma marginatum (n=4). 258 ticks belonging to 3 different species were collected from horses during trail rides in 11 municipalities: Hyalomma marginatum (n=170), Rhipicephalus bursa (n=92) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (n=50). From June 2022 to July 2023, 4756 ticks belonging to 8 species were collected from slaughterhouses: Rhipicephalus bursa (n=1900), Hyalomma marginatum (n=1008), Boophilus annulatus (n=674), Hyalomma scupense (n=510), Haemaphysalis punctata (n=220), Ixodes ricinus (n=201), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (n=241), Dermacentor marginatus (n=2).
These results show the need to combine several collection methods on different hosts and environments to obtain a global view of tick species and their circulation.
These ticks will then be analyzed for the presence of tick-borne diseases of public health interest. In addition, their virome can be analyzed to assess the diversity of viral species. The environmental data collected will be used in models to map areas at risk of host-vector-pathogen interactions. Indeed, mapping is a great tool for public health decision-making and for prevention and control of vector-borne diseases.
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