Abundance of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in domestic gardens in Belgium, 2020-2022

A citizen science approach

Bibliographic Data

ID15380757
AuthorsKäthe Robert (0009-0001-9371-4998, corresponding author), Mats Van Gestel (0000-0003-0743-9713, University of Antwerp), Michiel Lathouwers (0000-0002-8426-4788, Research Institute for Nature and Forest), Manoj Fonville (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment), Hein Sprong (0000-0002-0218-4320, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment), Erik Matthysen (0000-0002-7521-9248, University of Antwerp), Dieter J A Heylen (0000-0002-6136-8007, University of Antwerp), Dieter Heylen
Year2025
Volume25
Issue1
Pages2031-2031
Publication date2025-06-02
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBMC Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1471-2458 • E-ISSN: 1471-2458
PublisherBioMed Central (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1186/s12889-025-23221-1
PMID40457326
OpenAlexW4410940422
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited88

The presence of Ixodes ricinus in gardens, coupled with the detection of pathogens at prevalence levels similar to those in natural habitats, suggests that private gardens may serve as overlooked risk areas for tick exposure. This underscores that raising public awareness, combined with effective garden management strategies, may help mitigate the risk of infection with tick-borne diseases. Future research could focus on evaluating the effectiveness of prevention and garden management measures

Abundance (ecology · Acari · Animal ecology · Biology · Biostatistics · Botany · Citizen science · Entomology · Environmental health · Public health · Tick · Tick-borne disease · Veterinary medicine · Zoology · Medicine · Nursing · Plant and Fungal Interactions Research · Vector-borne infectious diseases · Viral Infections and Vectors · Ecology · Epidemiology · Virology

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Open DOIOpen Access