Variable spikes in tick-borne encephalitis incidence in 2006 independent of variable tick abundance but related to weather
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The incidence of tick-borne encephalitis showed a dramatic spike in several countries in Europe in 2006, a year that was unusually cold in winter but unusually warm and dry in summer and autumn. In this study we examine the possible...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
BMC
2008-12-01
|
Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
Online Access: | http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/content/1/1/44 |
id |
doaj-9a8a4a2e4cf74ee9892752d8eb1d6d27 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-9a8a4a2e4cf74ee9892752d8eb1d6d272020-11-25T00:16:49ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052008-12-01114410.1186/1756-3305-1-44Variable spikes in tick-borne encephalitis incidence in 2006 independent of variable tick abundance but related to weatherKnap NatasaHubalek ZdenekGolovljova IrinaGern LiseBurri CarolineBormane AntraAvsic-Zupanc TatjanaAsokliene LoretaRandolph Sarah EKondrusik MaceijKupca AnnePejcoch MilanVasilenko VeeraŽygutiene Milda<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The incidence of tick-borne encephalitis showed a dramatic spike in several countries in Europe in 2006, a year that was unusually cold in winter but unusually warm and dry in summer and autumn. In this study we examine the possible causes of the sudden increase in disease: more abundant infected ticks and/or increased exposure due to human behaviour, both in response to the weather.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>For eight countries across Europe, field data on tick abundance for 2005–2007, collected monthly from a total of 41 sites, were analysed in relation to total annual and seasonal TBE incidence and temperature and rainfall conditions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The weather in 2006–2007 was exceptional compared with the previous two decades, but neither the very cold start to 2006, nor the very hot period from summer 2006 to late spring 2007 had any consistent impact on tick abundance. Nor was the TBE spike in 2006 related to changes in tick abundance. Countries varied in the degree of TBE spike despite similar weather patterns, and also in the degree to which seasonal variation in TBE incidence matched seasonal tick activity.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The data suggest that the TBE spike was not due to weather-induced variation in tick population dynamics. An alternative explanation, supported by qualitative reports and some data, involves human behavioural responses to weather favourable for outdoor recreational activities, including wild mushroom and berry harvest, differentially influenced by national cultural practices and economic constraints.</p> http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/content/1/1/44 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Knap Natasa Hubalek Zdenek Golovljova Irina Gern Lise Burri Caroline Bormane Antra Avsic-Zupanc Tatjana Asokliene Loreta Randolph Sarah E Kondrusik Maceij Kupca Anne Pejcoch Milan Vasilenko Veera Žygutiene Milda |
spellingShingle |
Knap Natasa Hubalek Zdenek Golovljova Irina Gern Lise Burri Caroline Bormane Antra Avsic-Zupanc Tatjana Asokliene Loreta Randolph Sarah E Kondrusik Maceij Kupca Anne Pejcoch Milan Vasilenko Veera Žygutiene Milda Variable spikes in tick-borne encephalitis incidence in 2006 independent of variable tick abundance but related to weather Parasites & Vectors |
author_facet |
Knap Natasa Hubalek Zdenek Golovljova Irina Gern Lise Burri Caroline Bormane Antra Avsic-Zupanc Tatjana Asokliene Loreta Randolph Sarah E Kondrusik Maceij Kupca Anne Pejcoch Milan Vasilenko Veera Žygutiene Milda |
author_sort |
Knap Natasa |
title |
Variable spikes in tick-borne encephalitis incidence in 2006 independent of variable tick abundance but related to weather |
title_short |
Variable spikes in tick-borne encephalitis incidence in 2006 independent of variable tick abundance but related to weather |
title_full |
Variable spikes in tick-borne encephalitis incidence in 2006 independent of variable tick abundance but related to weather |
title_fullStr |
Variable spikes in tick-borne encephalitis incidence in 2006 independent of variable tick abundance but related to weather |
title_full_unstemmed |
Variable spikes in tick-borne encephalitis incidence in 2006 independent of variable tick abundance but related to weather |
title_sort |
variable spikes in tick-borne encephalitis incidence in 2006 independent of variable tick abundance but related to weather |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
Parasites & Vectors |
issn |
1756-3305 |
publishDate |
2008-12-01 |
description |
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The incidence of tick-borne encephalitis showed a dramatic spike in several countries in Europe in 2006, a year that was unusually cold in winter but unusually warm and dry in summer and autumn. In this study we examine the possible causes of the sudden increase in disease: more abundant infected ticks and/or increased exposure due to human behaviour, both in response to the weather.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>For eight countries across Europe, field data on tick abundance for 2005–2007, collected monthly from a total of 41 sites, were analysed in relation to total annual and seasonal TBE incidence and temperature and rainfall conditions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The weather in 2006–2007 was exceptional compared with the previous two decades, but neither the very cold start to 2006, nor the very hot period from summer 2006 to late spring 2007 had any consistent impact on tick abundance. Nor was the TBE spike in 2006 related to changes in tick abundance. Countries varied in the degree of TBE spike despite similar weather patterns, and also in the degree to which seasonal variation in TBE incidence matched seasonal tick activity.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The data suggest that the TBE spike was not due to weather-induced variation in tick population dynamics. An alternative explanation, supported by qualitative reports and some data, involves human behavioural responses to weather favourable for outdoor recreational activities, including wild mushroom and berry harvest, differentially influenced by national cultural practices and economic constraints.</p> |
url |
http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/content/1/1/44 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT knapnatasa variablespikesintickborneencephalitisincidencein2006independentofvariabletickabundancebutrelatedtoweather AT hubalekzdenek variablespikesintickborneencephalitisincidencein2006independentofvariabletickabundancebutrelatedtoweather AT golovljovairina variablespikesintickborneencephalitisincidencein2006independentofvariabletickabundancebutrelatedtoweather AT gernlise variablespikesintickborneencephalitisincidencein2006independentofvariabletickabundancebutrelatedtoweather AT burricaroline variablespikesintickborneencephalitisincidencein2006independentofvariabletickabundancebutrelatedtoweather AT bormaneantra variablespikesintickborneencephalitisincidencein2006independentofvariabletickabundancebutrelatedtoweather AT avsiczupanctatjana variablespikesintickborneencephalitisincidencein2006independentofvariabletickabundancebutrelatedtoweather AT asoklieneloreta variablespikesintickborneencephalitisincidencein2006independentofvariabletickabundancebutrelatedtoweather AT randolphsarahe variablespikesintickborneencephalitisincidencein2006independentofvariabletickabundancebutrelatedtoweather AT kondrusikmaceij variablespikesintickborneencephalitisincidencein2006independentofvariabletickabundancebutrelatedtoweather AT kupcaanne variablespikesintickborneencephalitisincidencein2006independentofvariabletickabundancebutrelatedtoweather AT pejcochmilan variablespikesintickborneencephalitisincidencein2006independentofvariabletickabundancebutrelatedtoweather AT vasilenkoveera variablespikesintickborneencephalitisincidencein2006independentofvariabletickabundancebutrelatedtoweather AT zygutienemilda variablespikesintickborneencephalitisincidencein2006independentofvariabletickabundancebutrelatedtoweather |
_version_ |
1725382329654837248 |