Mapping ticks and tick-borne pathogens in China

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21375-1
• Publication Date: 2021-02-19T16:46:37Z
• Authors: Guo-Ping Zhao; Yi-Xing Wang; Zheng-Wei Fan; Yang Ji; Ming-jin Liu; Wen-Hui Zhang; Xin-Lou Li; Shi-Xia Zhou; Hao Li; Song Liang; Wei Liu; Yang Yang; Li-Qun Fang
• Keywords: China; 0303 health sciences; Geography; Science; Incidence; Q; 15. Life on land; Article; Tick Infestations; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Ticks; Species Specificity; Tick-Borne Diseases; 13. Climate action; Animals; Cluster Analysis

AbstractUnderstanding ecological niches of major tick species and prevalent tick-borne pathogens is crucial for efficient surveillance and control of tick-borne diseases. Here we provide an up-to-date review on the spatial distributions of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in China. We map at the county level 124 tick species, 103 tick-borne agents, and human cases infected with 29 species (subspecies) of tick-borne pathogens that were reported in China during 1950−2018.Haemaphysalis longicornisis found to harbor the highest variety of tick-borne agents, followed byIxodes persulcatus,Dermacentor nutalliandRhipicephalus microplus. Using a machine learning algorithm, we assess ecoclimatic and socioenvironmental drivers for the distributions of 19 predominant vector ticks and two tick-borne pathogens associated with the highest disease burden. The model-predicted suitable habitats for the 19 tick species are 14‒476% larger in size than the geographic areas where these species were detected, indicating severe under-detection. Tick species harboring pathogens of imminent threats to public health should be prioritized for more active field surveillance.