Distribution of human-biting ticks and their microorganisms in France between 2017 and 2019
This dataset on human-biting ticks, collected as part of the CiTIQUE citizen science program, enables the study of the spatial distribution of microorganisms found in biting ticks in France.
The CiTIQUE program is a national initiative launched in July 2017 by INRAE and the ARBRE Laboratory of Excellence, in collaboration with the University of Lorraine, ANSES, the “Tous Chercheurs” Laboratory, and the CPIE (Permanent Center for Environmental Initiatives). It aims to understand the ecology of ticks and the potential pathogens they carry in order to improve disease prevention, such as Lyme disease. When reporting tick bites, citizens are invited to send in the ticks they have found, which are added to a “tiquothèque”, a bank of biting ticks unique in France.
The dataset presented here is based on the study of 2009 human-biting ticks submitted by citizens in France between 2017 and 2019. The data information is divided into five categories:
- Tick bite reports: information on the date and location of the bite;
- Tick characterization: morphological identification of life stages and taxonomic identification of tick genera and species;
- Detection of microorganisms that ticks may carry, using a real-time microfluidic PCR method;
- Detection of microorganisms by sequencing;
- Synthesis of microfluidic test results.
The research focused on about twenty potential pathogens, including those responsible for Lyme disease, granulocytic anaplasmosis, neoehrlichiosis, and babesiosis.
This dataset made it possible to map the spatial distribution of the various species of biting ticks and the microorganisms found. The maps created using this dataset provide support for public health policies that aimed at managing tick-related risks in France. They will also benefit healthcare professionals, who will thus gain a better understanding of the pathogens circulating in their area.