The niche of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Europe is predictable and mappable

Classic environmental niche modelling to examine the distribution of the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bb) in the Western Palearctic, is often inadequate because it depends on both its tick vector(s), like Ixodes ricinus, and vertebrate reservoirs. We aimed to...

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Autores: Estrada-Peña, Agustín, Davis, Julie, Stark, James H., Kelly, Patrick H.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2026
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Zaragoza
Repositorio:Zaguán. Repositorio Digital de la Universidad de Zaragoza
OAI Identifier:oai:zaguan.unizar.es:165997
Acceso en línea:http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/165997
Access Level:acceso abierto
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spelling The niche of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Europe is predictable and mappableEstrada-Peña, AgustínDavis, JulieStark, James H.Kelly, Patrick H.Classic environmental niche modelling to examine the distribution of the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bb) in the Western Palearctic, is often inadequate because it depends on both its tick vector(s), like Ixodes ricinus, and vertebrate reservoirs. We aimed to better determine, identify, and map the geographic distribution of Bb genospecies compiling data from 15,032 I. ricinus samples and over 6.5 million vertebrate records across 103 genera. We leveraged Species Stacking Distribution Modelling and Principal Components Analysis to identify communities of co-occurring vertebrates and their associations between Bb prevalence in host-seeking Ixodes nymphs and. Four vertebrate communities were revealed, with one strongly linked as primary reservoirs to Bb geographic range. Distribution of Bb in southern Europe was limited by the absence of I. ricinus despite suitable reservoirs, while in northern regions, a lack of competent reservoirs restricts its spread. The Bb prevalence in questing ticks correlates significantly (R2 = 0.89) with the presence of key reservoirs rather than overall vertebrate diversity which suggests the Bb niche is predictable and tied to specific vertebrate-tick co-occurrences. We compiled a dataset with the climate, vegetation, and vertebrate-derived variables linked to the transmission pressure of Bb to humans for the complete European territory, aiming for the prevention of infection in humans. This research underscores the importance of integrating reservoir species and tick distribution data to better map and predict Bb spread. By capturing the effects of climate and community composition on the occurrence of Bb in Europe, this framework provides insights for tracking Lyme borreliosis at a continental-level.2026info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionapplication/pdfhttp://zaguan.unizar.es/record/165997reponame:Zaguán. Repositorio Digital de la Universidad de Zaragozainstname:Universidad de ZaragozaInglésinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:zaguan.unizar.es:1659972026-05-29T13:59:51Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv The niche of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Europe is predictable and mappable
title The niche of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Europe is predictable and mappable
spellingShingle The niche of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Europe is predictable and mappable
Estrada-Peña, Agustín
title_short The niche of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Europe is predictable and mappable
title_full The niche of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Europe is predictable and mappable
title_fullStr The niche of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Europe is predictable and mappable
title_full_unstemmed The niche of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Europe is predictable and mappable
title_sort The niche of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Europe is predictable and mappable
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Estrada-Peña, Agustín
Davis, Julie
Stark, James H.
Kelly, Patrick H.
author Estrada-Peña, Agustín
author_facet Estrada-Peña, Agustín
Davis, Julie
Stark, James H.
Kelly, Patrick H.
author_role author
author2 Davis, Julie
Stark, James H.
Kelly, Patrick H.
author2_role author
author
author
description Classic environmental niche modelling to examine the distribution of the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bb) in the Western Palearctic, is often inadequate because it depends on both its tick vector(s), like Ixodes ricinus, and vertebrate reservoirs. We aimed to better determine, identify, and map the geographic distribution of Bb genospecies compiling data from 15,032 I. ricinus samples and over 6.5 million vertebrate records across 103 genera. We leveraged Species Stacking Distribution Modelling and Principal Components Analysis to identify communities of co-occurring vertebrates and their associations between Bb prevalence in host-seeking Ixodes nymphs and. Four vertebrate communities were revealed, with one strongly linked as primary reservoirs to Bb geographic range. Distribution of Bb in southern Europe was limited by the absence of I. ricinus despite suitable reservoirs, while in northern regions, a lack of competent reservoirs restricts its spread. The Bb prevalence in questing ticks correlates significantly (R2 = 0.89) with the presence of key reservoirs rather than overall vertebrate diversity which suggests the Bb niche is predictable and tied to specific vertebrate-tick co-occurrences. We compiled a dataset with the climate, vegetation, and vertebrate-derived variables linked to the transmission pressure of Bb to humans for the complete European territory, aiming for the prevention of infection in humans. This research underscores the importance of integrating reservoir species and tick distribution data to better map and predict Bb spread. By capturing the effects of climate and community composition on the occurrence of Bb in Europe, this framework provides insights for tracking Lyme borreliosis at a continental-level.
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
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dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/165997
url http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/165997
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
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instname:Universidad de Zaragoza
instname_str Universidad de Zaragoza
reponame_str Zaguán. Repositorio Digital de la Universidad de Zaragoza
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