Heterogeneity in tick abundance and tick-borne pathogens in a belgian peri-urban forest

Humans and domestic animal are exposed to Ixodes ricinus tick bites during their outdoor activities. These bites constitute a threat for their health because ticks harbor large bacterial communities, and can transmit various diseases, e.g. Lyme disease. Forests are considered as tick primary habitat as they provide favorable micro-conditions. As such, they are often considered as a homogenous land cover harboring abundant tick populations. However, little is known about the heterogeneity in tick density within a peri-urban forest, where human visits, and therefore exposure, is high. We collect... Mehr ...