EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES ON INCIDENCE OF TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS, LEPTOSPIROSIS AND TULARAEMIA

Abstract

Objectives: Potential effect of three environmental variables (population density of rodents, global weather in the form of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index, and acorn crop) on human morbidity rate of three zoonoses: tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), leptospirosis and tularaemia were analysed in the Czech Republic for the period 1970–1990. Methods: The Pearson’s correlation analysis was used. Results: The correlation analysis revealed that the significant factor for explaining annual morbidity rates of these zoonoses was the abundance of common voles (Microtus arvalis) in the current year (for leptospirosis) or in the previous calendar year (for TBE and tularaemia). Conclusions: The two other environmental variables tested (NAO index and acorn production) do not seem to play a significant role in these zoonoses in Central Europe.