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The distributional area of the tick Ixodes ricinus (L.), the primary European vector to humans of Lyme borreliosis spirochaetes (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato) and tick-borne encephalitis virus, appears to be increasing in Sweden. It is therefore important to determine which environmental factors are most useful to assess risk of human exposure to this tick and its associated pathogens. The geographical distribution of I. ricinus in Sweden was analysed with respect to vegetation zones and climate. The northern limit of I. ricinus and B. burgdorferi s.l. in Sweden corresponds roughly to the northern limit of the southern boreal vegetation zone, and is characterized climatically by snow cover for a mean duration of 150 days and a vegetation period averaging 170 days. The zoogeographical distribution of I. ricinus in Sweden can be classified as southerly-central, with the centre of the distribution south of the Limes Norrlandicus. Ixodes ricinus nymphs from 13 localities in different parts of Sweden were examined for the presence of B. burgdorferi s.l. and found to be infected with Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii. Tick sampling localities were characterized on the basis of the density of Borrelia-infected I. ricinus nymphs, presence of specific mammals, dominant vegetation and climate. Densities of I. ricinus nymphs and Borrelia-infected nymphs were significantly correlated, and nymphal density can thus serve as a general indicator of risk for exposure to Lyme borreliosis spirochaetes. Analysis of data from this and other studies suggests that high densities of Borrelia-infected nymphs typically occur in coastal, broadleaf vegetation and in mixed deciduous/spruce vegetation in southern Sweden. Ixodes ricinus populations consistently infected with B. burgdorferi s.l. can occur in: (a) biotopes with shrews, rodents, hares and birds; (b) biotopes with shrews, rodents, hares, deer and birds, and (c) island locations where the varying hare (Lepus timidus) is the only mammalian tick host.

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Ticks were collected from pastures and domestic and wild vertebrates during the rainy seasons of 1994 and 1996 in Guinea-Bissau. We collected the following species: from pastures Rhipicephalus lunulatus Neumann, R. muhsamae Morel & Vassiliades, R. senegalensis Koch, and R. sulcatus Neumann; from reptiles Amblyomma nuttalli Dönitz and Aponomma flavomaculatum (Lucas); and from mammals Amblyomma paulopunctatum Neumann, Amblyomma splendidum Giebel, Amblyomma variegatum (F.), Hyalomma truncatum Koch, R. muhsamae, R. sanguineus (Latreille), R. senegalensis, and R. sulcatus. New host records are as follows: Amblyomma nuttalli on Senegal flap shelled turtle (Cyclanorbis senegalensis Dumeril & Bibron), Aponomma flavomaculatum on West African dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis Cope), and R. sulcatus on bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus Pallas). We reviewed the literature for earlier records of ticks from Guinea-Bissau. The regional distributions of the 21 tick species hitherto recorded in Guinea-Bissau are listed.

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The diel 'activity', i.e. availability, of Ixodes ricinus larvae, nymphs and adults was investigated in a meadow and a forest habitat near Stockholm during 1991-1993. Generally, the immature ticks were more prevalent in the forest than in the meadow. In the meadow, the mean larval and adult numbers varied significantly between 4 h time intervals with the peak activity from 2300 to 0300 h. In the forest, the tick numbers did not differ significantly between the time intervals. The association of the tick activity with certain meteorological variables was strongest in the meadow, where the mean numbers of all tick stages were negatively correlated with the temperature. The relative humidity was positively correlated only with the mean numbers of larvae. In contrast, the larval activity in the forest was positively and negatively correlated with the temperature and relative humidity, respectively, while the nymphal and adult activity showed no association with these climatic variables. The impact of the host activity on the tick diel activity is also discussed.

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The aim of this investigation was to estimate the seasonal risk of contracting human Lyme disease in different vegetation types in southern Sweden. Host-seeking Ixodes ricinus ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) were collected with standardized methods during May-September 1988 and March-October 1989 at 10 different sampling sites. Tick abundance was greatest during May-June and August-September. Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi infection of the ticks was assessed by phase-contrast microscopy complemented by immunology. Spirochetal infection of tick larvae was not detected. The prevalence of infection among nymphal ticks differed significantly between years and between sampling sites. Infection prevalence was greater in adult females than in nymphs, but was similar in female and male ticks. Among all vegetation types studied, the greatest Lyme disease risk was deemed to be from I. ricinus nymphs during May and September in mixed forest vegetation.

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Ixodes ricinus ticks, harbouring Borrelia burgdorferi, were found in an area in northern Sweden, not thought to be endemic for Lyme borreliosis. This investigation took place at Norrbyskär, an island situated in the Bothnian Gulf, 63 degrees 33'N/19 degrees 52'E. One of 42 nymphal and 8/43 adult I. ricinus ticks collected carried spirochetes as seen by phase contrast microscopy. Pure bacterial cultures were obtained from 2 of the ticks. Western blot analysis using species-specific monoclonal antibodies showed that the isolated spirochetes were B. burgdorferi. The identity of the isolated spirochetes was confirmed by DNA amplification using B. burgdorferi OspA and flagellin gene specific oligonucleotides as well as partial DNA sequencing of the respective OspA and flagellin genes. The 2 isolated spirochaete populations were different as shown by their protein profiles in sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gels. Moreover, the demonstration of Lyme borreliosis in a patient from the island of Norrbyskär indicates the need for clinical consideration of this disease in northern Sweden.

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