| 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) |