A longitudinal study of the prevalence of borreliae in ticks in the urban locality of Brno - Pisárky, Czech Republic

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate potential effects of the infection rate and the frequency of the infected individual developmental stages of I. ricinus on Lyme borreliosis incidence, based on data from the 7-year study. Pisarky Park was chosen for this long-term project since it is a popular recreational area for inhabitants of Brno city, Czech Republic. The positivity of ticks in Pisarky has changed over the years and also within one year. The activity culminated in summer, but the positivity peaked in the autumn months. In this longitudinal study the prevalence of all developmental stages of I. ricinus ticks in the Pisarky Park in Brno was confirmed. Nymphs were established as the main vector stage infecting humans.