Landscape-associated pathogens are affected by the biotic and abiotic environment. Understanding the interactions between pathogens, hosts, and their environment helps to develop intervention strategies that reduce risk.
The distribution of pathogens transmitted by ticks or other blood-feeding arthropods is directly influenced by environmental conditions affecting their vectors and their hosts. Theses conditions also determine whether and how such pathogens are introduced into new sites and whether they established themselves there. In sites, where environmental conditions are optimal for hosts and vectors, transmission foci may develop in the landscape where the pathogen is efficiently prepetuated. Anthropogenic impact on landscapes may improve the conditions for vectors and hosts and may result in locally increased risk of infection. Therefore, understanding the complex interrelationships of pathogens, hosts and vectors may help to modify specific features of the landscape such that the cycle of transmission is interrupted in sites that are highly frequented by people.
Our research aims to identify biotic and abiotic factors that drive the natural transmission cycle of Lyme disease spirochetes and other tick-borne pathogens. The wood tick, Ixodes ricinus, serves as vector for these pathogens and is present throughout Germany. With laboratory experiments, in field studies, and with various modeling approaches, we examine the interactions between wood ticks, their hosts and pathogens as well as their environmental adaptation.