Habitat Suitability of <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> Ticks Carrying Pathogens in North-East Italy.

ABSTRACT: Ixodes ricinus ticks are ubiquitous in Europe, including in North-East Italy. These ticks are important vectors of several zoonotic pathogens of public health relevance. In this study, the habitat suitability range of I. ricinus ticks infected with zoonotic pathogens was predicted in North-East Italy, and relevant spatial predictors were identified. In 2015-2021, ticks were collected at 26 sampling sites in the study area. The collected ticks were screened for the presence of pathogens using PCR assays. For Borrelia, Rickettsia and Anaplasma/Ehrlichia species, data allowed for ecological niche modelling using Maxent. Environmental determinants potentially related to tick habitat suitability were used as model inputs. Predicted suitable habitat distributio

SUBMITTER: Huitink M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11510671 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature