Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Via Gabelli, 63, 35121 Padua, Italy
Nicoletta Vonesch
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), Via Fontana Candida 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Italy
Paola Tomao
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), Via Fontana Candida 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Italy
Lapo Mughini-Gras
Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands
Ixodes ricinus ticks are ubiquitous in Europe, including in North-East Italy. These ticks are important vectors of several zoonotic pathogens of public health relevance. In this study, the habitat suitability range of I. ricinus ticks infected with zoonotic pathogens was predicted in North-East Italy, and relevant spatial predictors were identified. In 2015–2021, ticks were collected at 26 sampling sites in the study area. The collected ticks were screened for the presence of pathogens using PCR assays. For Borrelia, Rickettsia and Anaplasma/Ehrlichia species, data allowed for ecological niche modelling using Maxent. Environmental determinants potentially related to tick habitat suitability were used as model inputs. Predicted suitable habitat distributions revealed hotspots of the probability of pathogen presence in I. ricinus ticks mainly in the central and upper parts of the study area. Key environmental predictors were temperature, rainfall and altitude, and vegetation index for specific pathogens (Rickettsia and Anaplasma/Ehrlichia species). Increased risk of exposure to tick-borne pathogens upon tick bites in the predicted hotspot areas can, therefore, be expected. This provides useful information for public health risk managers in this and other similar regions.
