08.43 – Wednesday 15 May 2024
(The following text is taken entirely from the press note sent to the Opinion Agency) –
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In recent years, the increase in average temperatures recorded during the winter months has led to a reduction in the “hibernation” period of ticks and stimulated their early activity in our area too. In particular, the woodland tick, Ixodes ricinus, carries out a winter diapause during which it generally remains protected under leaves, stones or snow. If it has not had the opportunity to feed before the arrival of winter, as soon as the temperatures rise (above 7-10 °C, but locally also lower such as on the south-facing slopes) it begins the search for the host to carry out the blood meal necessary to complete its development cycle which includes three stages (larva, nymph and adult) over three years.
Although the period of greatest activity of ticks is normally from May to mid-June, and more and more often also in the months of March and April, if the temperatures are above average as has also occurred this year, it is possible to encounter these parasites when there it goes to environments with bushy vegetation and wooded areas from the valley floor up to 1200-1400 m.
The diseases
Ticks can transmit dangerous diseases to humans and animals. The most widespread diseases in our area are Lyme disease and Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). The first is caused by a bacterium and requires antibiotic treatment if contracted, while the second is transmitted by a virus for which the provincial health services company offers free vaccination to residents.
Monitoring, risk maps and predictive models by FEM
For more than twenty years, the Applied Ecology unit of the FEM has been monitoring the presence of pathogens dangerous for humans in tick populations in the province of Trento, both collected directly from hosts (e.g. wild rodents) and from vegetation. Based on the data collected, risk maps and predictive models are produced.
Valle dei Laghi and areas affected by storm Vaia are under observation
In 2024 this activity will continue with the monitoring of these parasites on wild rodents in Valle dei Laghi, as these animals are the main reservoirs of pathogens transmitted by ticks. The research activity will also be carried out in other areas of Trentino, with particular reference to the study of the situation in the areas affected by the Vaia storm. The data collected so far have in fact highlighted an increase in ticks in these areas, demonstrating that even the indirect effects of climate change such as extreme events contribute to the increase in health risk for numerous pathogens, especially those with vector transmission. The research activity will be focused on studying the frequenting of crashed areas by various animals and how this phenomenon can influence the risk of transmission of tick-borne diseases.
