Electromagnetic radiation and behavioural response of ticks: an experimental test.

vrijdag, 13 april 2018 - Categorie: Onderzoeken

Bron: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29605834
Exp Appl Acarol. 2018 May;75(1):85-95. doi: 10.1007/s10493-018-0253-z. Epub 2018 Mar 31.

Vargová B1, Majláth I2, Kurimský J3, Cimbala R3, Kosterec M3, Tryjanowski P4, Jankowiak Ł5, Raši T2, Majláthová V6,7.

1 Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, Kosice, Slovak Republic.
2 Institute of Biology and Ecology, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Srobarova 2, 041 80, Kosice, Slovak Republic.
3 Department of Electrical Power Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, Technical University of Kosice, Masiarska 74, 041 20, Kosice, Slovak Republic.
4 Institute of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71C, 60-625, Poznan, Poland.
5 Department of Vertebrate Anatomy and Zoology, University of Szczecin, Wąska 13, 71-412, Szczecin, Poland.
6 Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, Kosice, Slovak Republic. majlat@saske.sk.
7 Institute of Biology and Ecology, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Srobarova 2, 041 80, Kosice, Slovak Republic. majlat@saske.sk.

Abstract
Factors associated with the increased usage of electronic devices, wireless technologies and mobile phones nowadays are present in increasing amounts in our environment. All living organisms are constantly affected by electromagnetic radiation which causes serious environmental pollution. The distribution and density of ticks in natural habitats is influenced by a complex of abiotic and biotic factors. Exposure to radio-frequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) constitutes a potential cause altering the presence and distribution of ticks in the environment. Our main objective was to determine the affinity of Dermacentor reticulatus ticks towards RF-EMF exposure. Originally designed and constructed radiation-shielded tube (RST) test was used to test the affinity of ticks under controlled laboratory conditions. All test were performed in an electromagnetic compatibility laboratory in an anechoic chamber. Ticks were irradiated using a Double-Ridged Waveguide Horn Antenna to RF-EMF at 900 and 5000 MHz, 0 MHz was used as control. The RF-EMF exposure to 900 MHz induced a higher concentration of ticks on irradiated arm of RST as opposed to the RF-EMF at 5000 MHz, which caused an escape of ticks to the shielded arm. This study represents the first experimental evidence of RF-EMF preference in D. reticulatus. The projection of obtained results to the natural environment could help assess the risk of tick borne diseases and could be a tool of preventive medicine.

KEYWORDS:
Dermacentor reticulatus; Electromagnetic field; Radiation-shielded tube test

Voor degenen die het niet wisten, ticks zijn teken



Lees verder in de categorie Onderzoeken | Terug naar homepage | Lees de introductie