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Table 6 Main findings and suggestions for further research priorities

From: Spatial disaggregation of tick occurrence and ecology at a local scale as a preliminary step for spatial surveillance of tick-borne diseases: general framework and health implications in Belgium

 

Current knowledge

Suggestions for future research priorities

Tick presence

• The current national list of occurring tick species (not previously available)

• Search for tick species recorded in neighbouring countries country (targeting prefered host species or habitat)

Tick distribution

• A first distribution map for Ixodes ricinus based on occurrences which highlights presence of the species in all the provinces

• Build up a distribution model for exophilic species such as Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus based on habitat preferences and distribution of other influencing species

• Current very partial knowledge of distribution for the other tick species

• Build up a distribution model for nidiculous species based on distribution of major host species

 

• Perform a systematic tick survey across the country

Tick hosts/ reservoirs

• Provide for each tick a list of hosts on which they have been recorded in the country

• For each local vertebrate species check potential host status for each tick species or potential influence on tick population

 

• Map the distribution of relevant species

Presence of pathogens

• Potential presence of pathogens such as Borrelia burgdoferi s.l. in many tick species

• Check the pathogenicity of each micro-organisms species

• List of microorganisms potentially present locally or aborad in local ticks species

• For pathogenic microorganisms check vector status of associated ticks Identify presence of potential reservoirs for pathogens (tick/ hosts)

• List of tick/ micro-organisms associations

• Investigate pathogen distribution across species to better comprehend

 

• risk before modelling risk map

Pathogen distribution

• First map of (suspected) pathogens found in ticks

• Search for additional pathogens in ticks of the country

 

• Make a pathogen distribution map (found in ticks, hosts, reservoirs)

Human-vector contact

 

• Use public knowledge from nature defense group, scouts, veterinary, general practitioner to localise and quantify tick bites

Tick-borne diseases risk map

• Some hot spot with highest I. ricinus abundance are highlighted but because of unreliable sampling those should be further investigated

• Investigate presence and prevalence of pathogenic species

 

• Make a countrywide standardised survey to allow comparing abundance between sites.

 

• In a given area, what is the probability 1) to get a tick bite, 2) that this tick was infected with pathogens 3) infected by which pathogen(s)