The importance of wildlife in the ecology and epidemiology of the TBE virus in Sweden: incidence of human TBE correlates with abundance of deer and hares

• Published in: Parasites & Vectors
• Main Authors: Thomas G. T. Jaenson, Erik H. Petersson, David G. E. Jaenson, Jonas Kindberg, John H.-O. Pettersson, Marika Hjertqvist, Jolyon M. Medlock, Hans Bengtsson
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2018
• Subjects: Ixodes ricinus; Capreolus capreolus; Cervus elaphus; Lepus; Hare; Red deer; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Alces alces; Lepus timidus; mountain hare; Lynx; Lynx lynx lynx
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-018-3057-4; https://doaj.org/article/88644c4c270f4c5b966ec542f3161909

Abstract Background Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is one tick-transmitted disease where the human incidence has increased in some European regions during the last two decades. We aim to find the most important factors causing the increasing incidence of human TBE in Sweden. Based on a review of published data we presume that certain temperature-related variables and the population densities of transmission hosts, i.e. small mammals, and of primary tick maintenance hosts, i.e. cervids and lagomorphs, of the TBE virus vector Ixodes ricinus, are among the potentially most important factors affecting the TBE incidence. Therefore, we compare hunting data of the major tick maintenance hosts and two of their important predators, and four climatic variables with the annual numbers of human cases of neuroinvasive TBE. Data for six Swedish regions where human TBE incidence is high or has recently increased are examined by a time-series analysis. Results from the six regions are combined using a meta-analytical method. Results With a one-year time lag, the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), mountain hare (Lepus timidus) and European hare (Lepus europaeus) showed positive covariance; the Eurasian elk (moose, Alces alces) and fallow deer (Dama dama) negative covariance; whereas the wild boar (Sus scrofa), lynx (Lynx lynx), red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the four climate parameters showed no significant covariance with TBE incidence. All game species combined showed positive covariance. Conclusions The epidemiology of TBE varies with time and geography and depends on numerous factors, i.a. climate, virus genotypes, and densities of vectors, tick maintenance hosts and transmission hosts. This study suggests that the increased availability of deer to I. ricinus over large areas of potential tick habitats in southern Sweden increased the density and range of I. ricinus and created new TBEV foci, which resulted in increased incidence of human TBE. New foci may be established by TBE virus-infected birds, or by ...