FASFC - Exotic vector and pathogen surveillance programme in Belgium - ticks

Study Extent

Following the implementation of invasive mosquito surveillance in Belgium in 2012, to evaluate the guidelines of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC 2012, Deblauwe et al. 2014a), the surveillance continued in 2013 including that of biting midges and ticks, and their most important pathogens. In 2014 only invasive mosquitoes and exotic ticks (Dermacentor) were surveyed because of the necessity to intensify the surveillance measures for Ae. albopictus at two points of entry. Also in 2015 the focus was only on invasive mosquitoes and ticks (both Dermacentor and Ixodes) as Ae. albopictus has become a yearly reappearing threat in Belgium. However, by-catches of MMLP traps are already sorted for Culicoides and still available.

Sampling

Active sampling of the exotic tick D. reticulatus at one highly colonised site and at two sites where its presence was suspected. Active sampling of I. ricinus at a medium risk area. Screening of tick species for pathogens (Dermacentor: Theileria equi, Babesia canis, Babesia caballi and Ixodes: Borrelia burgdorferi s.l.) To collect the tick D. reticulatus three Nature Reserves were selected. The Nature Reserve ‘Westhoek’ in De Panne has a large population of this tick species. Two other sites (‘Goed te Parijs’ in Deinze and ‘De Zeven Dreven’ in De Pinte) were selected because of the movement in the end of 2014 of donkeys from de Panne to these sites and the consequent risk of importing D. reticulatus ticks. During the search for D. reticulatus ticks at the Nature Reserve ‘Westhoek’, I. ricinus ticks were collected as well to investigate the prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. The results of 2014, 2015 and 2016 are presented here and compared with those of 2013.

Quality Control

all data is validated and controlled by experts

Method steps

1. collection of data in the field by professionals

Vectors: Dermacentor reticulatus, Ixodes ricinus Hosts: Theieria equi, Babesiacanis caballi, Tick-borne encephalitis virus, Borrelia

1. Animalia
   rank: kingdom
2. Arthropoda
   rank: phylum
3. Arachnida
   rank: class
4. Ixodida
   rank: order
5. Ixodes ricinus
   rank: species
6. Dermacentor reticulatus
   rank: species
7. Theieria equi
   rank: species
8. Babesiacanis caballi
   rank: species
9. Tick-borne encephalitis virus
   rank: species
10. Borrelia
    rank: species

Belgium