[halshs-00436897] Spatial distribution of ticks in Thailand: a discussion basis for tick-borne virus spread assessment

A wide variety of viral infectious diseases are transmitted to humans by ticks and in certain cases, theses diseases can lead to a severe encephalitis or haemorrhagic fever. Within the framework of a research programme on emerging viral diseases carried out by the French Institute of Research for the Development (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, IRD) in partnership with the Centre for Vectors and Vector-borne Diseases, Mahidol University (Thailand), the spatial distribution of ticks in Thailand was investigated. An exhaustive review of studies of acarology conducted over the 20th century on Thailand was completed. We derived from this review the geographic coordinates of sites where ticks were collected in the past. In complement, we realised field works to collect ticks on unexplored sites. The location of theses sites was obtained with a GPS (Global Positioning System). Hence, we were able to build up a location-based inventory of ticks covering almost the whole Thailand. These data were then processed in a GIS to assess in every region the presence of tick species and to map the distribution of species known as potential vectors of viruses which are likely to be pathogenic to humans. All the GIS processings were undertaken using SavGIS©, a GIS freeware developed by IRD. This research represents a starting point for assessing tick-borne virus spread and the related risk of zoonosis in Thailand.



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