Glasgow Uni deer and livestock survey
The tick study project, which started in 2019, involves a range of local partners, including NHS Western Isles and NatureScot, members of the local community, as well as researchers from the University of Liverpool.
The project aims to identify the factors that contribute to current problems with ticks and tick-borne disease on the Western Isles, such as how risk varies across different habitats and the role of wildlife. This is done by sampling different environments on the islands of South Harris, North and South Uist, Benbecula and Barra for ticks and testing what proportion of them are infected with the bacterial pathogen causing Lyme disease. In addition, the project is collecting data on the mammalian species present across islands to better understand which of these species are important for maintaining ticks and tick- borne pathogens.
The researchers’ work has so far revealed that the local strain of the Lyme disease pathogen circulating on the Western Isles is associated with small mammals, which has directed their sampling efforts towards shrews, voles, mice and rats.
In addition, the researchers are interested in the role of hedgehogs, an introduced species. Jonathan Yardley, PhD student at the University of Glasgow, explains: “We are keen to collect as many samples from road killed hedgehogs as possible. This will allow us to test whether they are infected with the pathogen and to determine whether hedgehogs might be part of the problem.” The community is encouraged to report sightings of road- killed hedgehogs to the local NatureScot office.
Another piece in the puzzle the researchers are hoping to solve is the role of deer and livestock in maintaining tick populations. To help answer this question, they will over the coming months be conducting surveys of landowners and livestock keepers for the study sites previously surveyed for ticks.
Professor Roman Biek from the University of Glasgow: “The people on the Western Isles have been really helpful and immensely supportive of our research so far. So we are hopeful that people contacted will also respond positively to our invitations to participate in the livestock and deer surveys. Their answers will give us information we critically need to address the problems with ticks and tick-borne disease in the area.”
A local information sharing event to provide more detail about the research project and on how to stay tick safe is planned for late summer.
