The The Prevalence of Hard Ticks Infesting Humans in the South Bačka District: Association of Age and Infestation Localization with Tick Developmental Stages
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of different tick species infesting humans, to assess the correlation between patient age and the body region affected by the infestation, as well as to analyze the number of human infestations during the period from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023.
Methods. The study included patients residing in the South Bačka District who visited the Pasteur Institute with either a removed or attached tick. Patients were divided into eight age categories: 1–10 years, 11–20 years, 21–30 years, 31–40 years, 41–50 years, 51–60 years, 61–70 years, and 71–80 years. The study analyzed associations between age categories and the affected body regions (head and neck, upper extremities, lower extremities, torso, and genital area), the number of removed ticks, and the developmental stages of ticks (adult, nymph, larva).
Results. A total of 502 ticks were collected during the study period. Six tick species were identified, with Ixodes ricinus being the most prevalent (460/502; 91.63%). Of the total ticks collected, 252 (50.19%) were nymphs, while 205 (40.83%) were adults. Regression analysis revealed a statistically significant correlation between the frequency of infestation of arms, legs, and the genital region and the age of participants. Risk analysis showed a statistically significant difference in the likelihood of nymph infestations compared to adults in patients aged 1–10 years, with the probability of nymph infestation being nearly 1.5 times higher.
Conclusion. The results of this study highlight the dominance of Ixodes ricinus among ticks infesting humans in the South Bačka District, with nymphs being the most common developmental stage. A significant correlation was observed between the age of patients and the localization of infestations on the body, as well as an increased risk of nymph infestations in children aged 1–10 years. These findings provide valuable insights into the epidemiological characteristics of tick infestations, contributing to better planning of preventive measures and public education on tick-borne risks and protection.
References
1. Boulanger N, Boyer P, Talagrand-Reboul E, Hansmann Y. Ticks and tick-borne diseases. Med Mal Infect. 2019 Mar;49(2):87-97. doi: 10.1016/j.medmal.2019.01.007. Epub 2019 Feb 6. PMID: 30736991.
2. Banović P, Díaz-Sánchez AA, Mijatović D, Vujin D, Horváth Z, Vranješ N, Budakov-Obradović Z, Bujandrić N, Grujić J, Ghafar A, Jabbar A, Simin V, Obregón D, Cabezas-Cruz A. Shared Odds of Borrelia and Rabies Virus Exposure in Serbia. Pathogens. 2021 Mar 28;10(4):399. doi: 10.3390/pathogens10040399. PMID: 33800537; PMCID: PMC8065393.
3. Mead P. Epidemiology of Lyme Disease. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2022 Sep;36(3):495-521. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2022.03.004. PMID: 36116831.
4. Banović P, Rodríguez I, Jakimovski D. Current Status and Challenges Associated with Tick-Borne Pathogens and Diseases: Where Do We Stand? Pathogens. 2023 Oct 23;12(10):1271. doi: 10.3390/pathogens12101271. PMID: 37887787; PMCID: PMC10609814.
5. Cook MJ. Lyme borreliosis: a review of data on transmission time after tick attachment. Int J Gen Med. 2014 Dec 19;8:1-8. doi: 10.2147/IJGM.S73791. PMID: 25565881; PMCID: PMC4278789.
6. Falco RC, Fish D, Piesman J. Duration of tick bites in a Lyme disease-endemic area. Am J Epidemiol. 1996 Jan 15;143(2):187-92. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a008728. PMID: 8546120.
7. Clark RP, Hu LT. Prevention of lyme disease and other tick-borne infections. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2008 Sep;22(3):381-96, vii. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2008.03.007. PMID: 18755380; PMCID: PMC3195518.
8. Banović P, Díaz-Sánchez AA, Galon C, Simin V, Mijatović D, Obregón D, Moutailler S, Cabezas-Cruz A. Humans infested with Ixodes ricinus are exposed to a diverse array of tick-borne pathogens in Serbia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2021 Mar;12(2):101609. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101609. Epub 2020 Nov 23. PMID: 33260091.
9. Simin V, Lalošević D, Mijatović D, Tomanović S, Miljević M, Čabrilo B, et al. Borellia burgdorferi infection in removed ticks and anti-borrelia antibodies in infested patients admitted to the Pasteur institute, Novi Sad. Vet Glas. 2020 OnLine-First;(00):8–8.
10. Gray JS, Dautel H, Estrada-Peña A, Kahl O, Lindgren E. Effects of climate change on ticks and tick-borne diseases in europe. Interdiscip Perspect Infect Dis. 2009;2009:593232. doi: 10.1155/2009/593232. Epub 2009 Jan 4. PMID: 19277106; PMCID: PMC2648658.
11. Estrada-Peña A, Martinez JM, Sanchez Acedo C, Quilez J, Del Cacho E. Phenology of the tick, Ixodes ricinus, in its southern distribution range (central Spain). Med Vet Entomol. 2004 Dec;18(4):387-97. doi: 10.1111/j.0269-283X.2004.00523.x. PMID: 15642006.
12. Lipsker D, Jaulhac B, editors. Lyme borreliosis: biological and clinical aspects. Basel ; New York: Karger; 2009. 212 p. (Current problems in dermatology).
13. Wilhelmsson P, Lindblom P, Fryland L, Nyman D, Jaenson TG, Forsberg P, Lindgren PE. Ixodes ricinus ticks removed from humans in Northern Europe: seasonal pattern of infestation, attachment sites and duration of feeding. Parasit Vectors. 2013 Dec 20;6:362. doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-362. PMID: 24360096; PMCID: PMC3880168.
14. Cull B, Pietzsch ME, Gillingham EL, McGinley L, Medlock JM, Hansford KM. Seasonality and anatomical location of human tick bites in the United Kingdom. Zoonoses Public Health. 2020 Mar;67(2):112-121. doi: 10.1111/zph.12659. Epub 2019 Nov 8. PMID: 31705595.