Environmental Factors Driving the Seasonal Dynamics of <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> and <i>Dermacentor reticulatus</i> in Eastern Poland
<i>I. ricinus</i> and <i>D. reticulatus</i> are among the most important vectors of pathogens causing tick-borne diseases in humans and animals. This study investigated their seasonal activity in Eastern Poland, a region with one of the highest incidence rates of tick-borne d...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| author | Aneta Woźniak Zbigniew Zając Joanna Kulisz |
| author_facet | Aneta Woźniak Zbigniew Zając Joanna Kulisz |
| author_sort | Aneta Woźniak |
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| description | <i>I. ricinus</i> and <i>D. reticulatus</i> are among the most important vectors of pathogens causing tick-borne diseases in humans and animals. This study investigated their seasonal activity in Eastern Poland, a region with one of the highest incidence rates of tick-borne diseases nationwide. Additionally, we examined tick habitat preferences and the impact of abiotic factors on their activity patterns. To this end, we conducted systematic monitoring of tick activity between 2017 and 2019 in two ecologically distinct habitats: a mixed forest and a meadow. Using Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) and Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs), we analyzed the collected data. Our findings indicate that <i>I. ricinus</i> reaches peak activity in late spring, within a temperature range of 9.5–16.5 °C and relative humidity between 45.3% and 84.5%. In contrast, <i>D. reticulatus</i> demonstrated a broader thermal tolerance, remaining active at temperatures ranging from 1.0 °C to 32.6 °C and relative air humidity of 33.8–89.0%. Both temperature and humidity were found to be significant factors influencing tick activity. Moreover, <i>I. ricinus</i> and <i>D. reticulatus</i> exhibited distinct seasonal activity patterns throughout the year. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e9665e74ee374880adf25ca8daa3d18d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj-art-e9665e74ee374880adf25ca8daa3d18d2025-08-20T03:14:42ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-05-0116549010.3390/insects16050490Environmental Factors Driving the Seasonal Dynamics of <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> and <i>Dermacentor reticulatus</i> in Eastern PolandAneta Woźniak0Zbigniew Zając1Joanna Kulisz2Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, Poland<i>I. ricinus</i> and <i>D. reticulatus</i> are among the most important vectors of pathogens causing tick-borne diseases in humans and animals. This study investigated their seasonal activity in Eastern Poland, a region with one of the highest incidence rates of tick-borne diseases nationwide. Additionally, we examined tick habitat preferences and the impact of abiotic factors on their activity patterns. To this end, we conducted systematic monitoring of tick activity between 2017 and 2019 in two ecologically distinct habitats: a mixed forest and a meadow. Using Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) and Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs), we analyzed the collected data. Our findings indicate that <i>I. ricinus</i> reaches peak activity in late spring, within a temperature range of 9.5–16.5 °C and relative humidity between 45.3% and 84.5%. In contrast, <i>D. reticulatus</i> demonstrated a broader thermal tolerance, remaining active at temperatures ranging from 1.0 °C to 32.6 °C and relative air humidity of 33.8–89.0%. Both temperature and humidity were found to be significant factors influencing tick activity. Moreover, <i>I. ricinus</i> and <i>D. reticulatus</i> exhibited distinct seasonal activity patterns throughout the year.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/5/490<i>D. reticulatus</i><i>I. ricinus</i>seasonal activity of tickstick-borne diseasestick habitat |
| spellingShingle | Aneta Woźniak Zbigniew Zając Joanna Kulisz Environmental Factors Driving the Seasonal Dynamics of <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> and <i>Dermacentor reticulatus</i> in Eastern Poland Insects <i>D. reticulatus</i> <i>I. ricinus</i> seasonal activity of ticks tick-borne diseases tick habitat |
| title | Environmental Factors Driving the Seasonal Dynamics of <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> and <i>Dermacentor reticulatus</i> in Eastern Poland |
| title_full | Environmental Factors Driving the Seasonal Dynamics of <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> and <i>Dermacentor reticulatus</i> in Eastern Poland |
| title_fullStr | Environmental Factors Driving the Seasonal Dynamics of <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> and <i>Dermacentor reticulatus</i> in Eastern Poland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental Factors Driving the Seasonal Dynamics of <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> and <i>Dermacentor reticulatus</i> in Eastern Poland |
| title_short | Environmental Factors Driving the Seasonal Dynamics of <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> and <i>Dermacentor reticulatus</i> in Eastern Poland |
| title_sort | environmental factors driving the seasonal dynamics of i ixodes ricinus i and i dermacentor reticulatus i in eastern poland |
| topic | <i>D. reticulatus</i> <i>I. ricinus</i> seasonal activity of ticks tick-borne diseases tick habitat |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/5/490 |
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