A publicly accessible European application designed to monitor tick occurrences is set to be launched in the coming months.
The application aims to offer comprehensive information on tick-borne diseases, including their prevention and diagnosis, along with practical advice on how to safely remove a tick when it becomes embedded in the body.
Once launched, the application could prove invaluable to Poland, which is facing a surge in tick activity this summer, with the number of Lyme disease cases expected to increase.
The application is being developed by scientists as part of the EU project “PRAGMATICK COST,” which also involves Dr. Eng. Anna Wierzbicka, a Polish zoologist from the Department of Wildlife Management and Forest Protection at Poznań University of Life Sciences.
The project’s primary objectives include spreading knowledge about preventing tick-borne diseases, promoting vaccinations against tick-borne encephalitis, and identifying risk factors associated with tick presence and the pathogens they carry. It also aims to compare the epidemiological situation across different cities and countries.
One of the project’s outcomes will be a publicly accessible application allowing residents of European countries to submit information such as tick photos, observation locations, or any symptoms following a tick bite.
“These pieces of information will be collected, verified, and analyzed by scientists. Among other things, this will lead to a map showing the distribution of specific tick species in various regions. Therefore, before going on vacation to a particular country, we will be able to check if there are many ticks there,” Wierzbicka explained.
The researcher pointed out that a similar application known as “Zecke” is already operational in Switzerland and remains popular among the residents there.
Citizen science
The development of this tool reflects the rising trend of “citizen science,” which includes the involvement of everyday citizens in scientific research rather than solely relying on experts.
As Wierzbicka recalled, early examples of such practices date back over a century, including traditions like the annual Christmas bird count in the U.K. This phenomenon has gained popularity in recent decades thanks to the development of the internet, smartphones, and tools for gathering and disseminating information.
In Poland, an example of citizen science related to ticks is the “National Tick Collection” initiative organized by Professor Anna Bajer’s team from the Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases at the Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw. This nationwide project aims to ascertain whether large, exotic ticks such as Hyalomma have reached Poland.
Once launched, the application could prove invaluable to Poland, which is facing a surge in tick activity this summer, with the number of Lyme disease cases expected to increase.
The application is being developed by scientists as part of the EU project “PRAGMATICK COST,” which also involves Dr. Eng. Anna Wierzbicka, a Polish zoologist from the Department of Wildlife Management and Forest Protection at Poznań University of Life Sciences.
The project’s primary objectives include spreading knowledge about preventing tick-borne diseases, promoting vaccinations against tick-borne encephalitis, and identifying risk factors associated with tick presence and the pathogens they carry. It also aims to compare the epidemiological situation across different cities and countries.
One of the project’s outcomes will be a publicly accessible application allowing residents of European countries to submit information such as tick photos, observation locations, or any symptoms following a tick bite.
“These pieces of information will be collected, verified, and analyzed by scientists. Among other things, this will lead to a map showing the distribution of specific tick species in various regions. Therefore, before going on vacation to a particular country, we will be able to check if there are many ticks there,” Wierzbicka explained.
The researcher pointed out that a similar application known as “Zecke” is already operational in Switzerland and remains popular among the residents there.
Citizen science
The development of this tool reflects the rising trend of “citizen science,” which includes the involvement of everyday citizens in scientific research rather than solely relying on experts.
As Wierzbicka recalled, early examples of such practices date back over a century, including traditions like the annual Christmas bird count in the U.K. This phenomenon has gained popularity in recent decades thanks to the development of the internet, smartphones, and tools for gathering and disseminating information.
In Poland, an example of citizen science related to ticks is the “National Tick Collection” initiative organized by Professor Anna Bajer’s team from the Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases at the Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw. This nationwide project aims to ascertain whether large, exotic ticks such as Hyalomma have reached Poland.
Source: PAP, TVP World
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