Abstract
The recent implication of Dermacentor reticulatus (Ixodida: Ixodidae) in the transmission of canine babesiosis in the U.K. has highlighted the lack of accurate published data on its distribution in this country. This paper aims to collate and appraise historical data for D. reticulatus, to supplement such data with more recent surveillance data and to report on field sampling conducted during 2009–2016. These updated data facilitate better understanding of the current distribution of this tick in the U.K., which will better inform disease risk assessments. There appear to be four known regions of the U.K. in which D. reticulatus currently occurs, including western Wales, North and South Devon, and Essex. The majority of foci are located in coastal sand dunes and maritime grasslands, including grazing marsh. However, more recently the tick has been detected in urban greenspace in Essex. The emergence of this tick as a vector of babesiosis in the U.K. and its recent apparent spread in Essex into urban greenspace highlight the need for continued surveillance and for further research into its status as a vector of human and veterinary pathogens.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 281-288 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Medical and Veterinary Entomology |
Volume | 31 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2017 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:JMM is partly funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) on Emerging and Zoonotic Infections at the University of Liverpool in partnership with Public Health England and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Crown copyright. Medical and Veterinary Entomology © 2017 The Royal Entomological Society
Keywords
- Babesia
- Dermacentor
- Ixodidae
- U.K
- surveillance
- tick