Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) infestation on roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in Trentino, Italian Alps
Chemini, C.; Rizzoli, A.; Merler, S.; Furlanello, C.; Genchi, C.
Parassitologia 39(1): 59-63
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0048-2951 PMID: 9419849 Document Number: 483571
The most important tick-deer system potentially supporting the epidemiology of Lyme disease in the Italian Alps is that regarding I. ricinus and roe deer (C. capreolus). The pattern of tick infestation on 562 male roe deer harvested in September 1994 in 56 game districts of Trento Province, was assessed. The prevalence and density of infestation by I. ricinus were analysed by a model based on classification and regression trees (CART), using both discrete and continuous variables concerning environmental and host parameters. The model discriminated altitude and host density as the 2 variables having the greatest effect on the prevalence and density of infestation of deer; the levels of infestation were higher at an altitude <1125 m or at roe deer densities >8.5 head/100 ha. The density of tick infestation tended to be higher in older roe deer.