The distribution limit of the common tick, Ixodes ricinus, and some associated pathogens in north-western Europe

Publication date: Available online 3 February 2020Source: Ticks and Tick-borne DiseasesAuthor(s): D. Hvidsten, K. Frafjord, J.S. Gray, A.J. Henningsson, A. Jenkins, B.E. Kristiansen, M. Lager, B. Rognerud, A.M. Slåtsve, F. Stordal, S. Stuen, P. WilhelmssonAbstractIn north-western Europe, the common tick, Ixodes ricinus, is widely established, its distribution appears to be increasing and the spread of tick-borne diseases is of increasing concern. The project ‘Flått i Nord’ (Ticks in northern Norway) commenced in spring 2009 with the intention of studying the tick’s distribution and that of its pathogens in northern Norway. Several methods were used: cloth-dragging, collecting from trapped small mammals, and collecting from pets. Since 2010, the occurrence of ticks in the region of northern Norway was determined directly by cloth-dragging 167 times in 109 separate locations between the latitudes of 64 °N and 70 °N (included seven locations in the northern part of Trøndelag County). The northernmost location of a permanent I. ricinus population was found to be Nordøyvågen (66.2204 °N, 12.59 °E) on the Island of Dønna. In a sample of 518 nymphal and adult ticks, the Borrelia prevalence collected close to this distribution limit varied but was low (1–15%) compared with the locations in Trøndelag, south of the study area (15–27%). Five specimens (1%) were positive for Rickettsia helvetica. The length of the vegetation growing season (GSL) can be used a...
Source: Ticks and Tick borne Diseases - Category: Zoology Source Type: research