Disappearance of TBEV Circulation among Rodents in a Natural Focus in Alsace, Eastern France.

ABSTRACT: Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) depends mainly on a fragile mode of transmission, the co-feeding between infected nymphs and larvae on rodents, and thus persists under a limited set of biotic and abiotic conditions. If these conditions change, natural TBEV foci might be unstable over time. We conducted a longitudinal study over seven years in a mountain forest in Alsace, Eastern France, located at the western border of known TBEV distribution. The objectives were (i) to monitor the persistence of TBEV circulation between small mammals and ticks and (ii) to discuss the presence of TBEV circulation in relation to the synchronous activity of larvae and nymphs, to the densities of questing nymphs and small mammals, and to potential changes in meteorological conditions and deer densities.

SUBMITTER: Bournez L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7697581 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature