Transmission and circulation of tick borne pathogens (TBE and Lyme borreliosis) and the role of changing environment

• Published in: Przegląd epidemiologiczny Vol. 64; no. 4; p. 525
• Main Author: Zajkowska, Joanna M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Polish
• Published: Poland 2010
• Subjects: Animals; Arachnid Vectors; Climate; Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne - isolation & purification; Encephalitis, Tick-Borne - epidemiology; Encephalitis, Tick-Borne - transmission; Environment; Humans; Incidence; Lyme Disease - epidemiology; Lyme Disease - transmission; Poland - epidemiology; Tick-Borne Diseases - epidemiology; Tick-Borne Diseases - transmission; Tick-Borne Diseases - virology; Tics - microbiology; Poland
• ISSN: 0033-2100

Ixodes ricinus is regarded as a species with great medical and veterinary meaning. Transmission of tick borne pathogens in mammals depends not only on systemic infection. Transmission of B. burgdorferi and tick-borne encephalitis virus in an infected organism differs, because of different location in tick, the differences in dissemination of the virus and bacteria (own motility) as well as mechanisms supporting bacterial infection. The mechanisms governing the transmission of these pathogens in nature have epidemiological importance and are essential in understanding the pathogenesis of diseases. The increase in the incidence of tick-borne encephalitis in recent years, is a marker of tick borne diseases. In the 90s, the number of cases among humans in many European countries remains at a higher level compared to the eighties. Similar observations consider to Lyme borreliosis. Natural environmental changes, mainly related to climate, as well as regional and local changes in distribution of the small rodents species, wild animals, anthropogenic factors (reforestation, drainage of swamps, increasing the reservoir of animals), and social change (increased human activities in forests, vaccinations) may have a significant impact on rates of tick-borne diseases.