Monitoring of ticks and tick-borne pathogens through a nationwide research station network in Finland

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101449
• Publication Date: 2020-05-12T06:56:06Z
• Authors: Jani J. Sormunen; Tommi Andersson; Jouni Aspi; Jaana Bäck; Tony Cederberg; Noora Haavisto; Hanna Halonen; Jari Hänninen; Jasmin Inkinen; Niko Kulha; Maija Laaksonen; John Loehr; Satu Mäkelä; Katja Mäkinen; Joanna Norkko; Riku Paavola; Pauliina Pajala; Tuukka Petäjä; Anna Puisto; Ella Sippola; Martin Snickars; Janne Sundell; Niko Tanski; Antti Uotila; Ella-Maria Vesilahti; Eero J. Vesterinen; Silja Vuorenmaa; Hannu Ylönen; Jari Ylönen; Tero Klemola
• Keywords: Ixodes persulcatus; Anaplasma phagocytophilum; Bartonella; Borrelia afzelii; Borrelia garinii; Tick-borne disease

In 2015 a long-term, nationwide tick and tick-borne pathogen (TBP) monitoring project was started by the Finnish Tick Project Research Station network (RESTAT), with goal of producing temporally geographically extensive data regarding exophilic ticks in Finland. current study, we present results from first four years this collaboration. Ticks were collected cloth dragging 11 research stations across Finland May-September 2015-2018 (2012-2018 Seili). Collected screened for twelve different pathogens qPCR: Borrelia afzelii, garinii, valaisiana, burgdorferi sensu stricto, miyamotoi, Babesia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Francisella tularensis, Bartonella spp. encephalitis virus (TBEV). Altogether 15 067 Ixodes ricinus 46 persulcatus during 68 km dragging. Field collections revealed seasonal activity patterns two species. The I. adults (only one nymph detected) unimodal, only May-July, whereas active May to September, peaks September (nymphs) or July-August (adults). Overall, densities higher latter study. lato most common detected, 48.9 ± 8.4% (95% Cl) 25.3 4.4% nymphs carrying bacteria. No samples positive F. TBEV detected. This collaboration involving has ensured enduring spatially extensive, long-term collection foreseeable future.