Wildlife conservation plans must consider risk of Lyme disease

A study conducted by the University of Glasgow has warned that Lyme disease – an infection contracted from the bite of an infected tick and an important emerging disease in the UK should be considered when consulting on habitat plans.

The research, published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, found that some types of conservation action could increase the abundance of ticks, which transmit diseases like Lyme disease.

Conducted in collaboration with Scottish Natural Heritage, the James Hutton Institute and Public Health England, the the scientists examined how conservation management activities could affect tick populations, wildlife host communities, the transmission of the Borrelia bacteria that can cause Lyme disease and, ultimately, the risk of contracting Lyme disease.

It highlighted that managing the environment for conservation and biodiversity has a number of positive effects, including benefits for human health and wellbeing from spending time in nature; however there should be consideration of disease vectors such as ticks and mosquitoes in conservation management decisions.

Lead author Dr Caroline Millins, from the University of Glasgow’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine (BAHCM), said: “We identified several widespread conservation management practices which could affect Lyme disease risk: the management of deer populations, woodland regeneration, urban greening and control of invasive species.

“We found that some management activities could lead to an increased risk of Lyme disease by increasing the habitat available for wildlife hosts and the tick vector. These activities were woodland regeneration and biodiversity policies which increase the amount of forest bordering open areas as well as urban greening.

“However, if deer populations are managed alongside woodland regeneration projects, this can reduce tick populations and the risk of Lyme disease.”