Relationship Between Tick Activity, Tick-Borne Diseases, Cognitive and Affective Risk Assessment in Peri-domestic...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Peri-domestic areas are recognized sources of tick exposure and subsequent tick-borne diseases (TBD).
• The relationship between psychological risk factors (perceptions, knowledge) and actual TBD risk (tick activity, diagnosis) in residential settings remains understudied.
• Adult residents of private residential properties (PRP) are a key demographic for understanding this association.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between distal TBD risk factors and proximal TBD risk among adult residents of private residential properties.
• To determine if tick activity or self-reported TBD diagnoses in peri-domestic areas correlate with risk perceptions and knowledge of protective behaviors.
• To identify demographic differences in tick activity within peri-domestic areas.

Main Methods:

• Data collected from 299 private residential properties in south and central Indiana.
• Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric tests were employed to analyze proximal and distal outcome measures.
• Analysis focused on tick activity, self-reported TBD diagnoses, affective risk assessment, and demographic factors.

Main Results:

• Tick activity was detected at 39% of PRP; 13% of households reported a TBD diagnosis.
• No significant association was found between household TBD diagnosis and peri-domestic tick activity.
• Affective risk assessment scores were significantly higher when tick activity or household TBD diagnoses were present.
• Peri-domestic tick activity was more prevalent in households with male or older adult primary respondents.

Conclusions:

• Peri-domestic settings may not be the primary source of tick exposure in Indiana compared to occupational or recreational areas.
• Affective responses and emotional considerations are crucial when designing interventions for tick-borne disease risk in at-risk populations.
• Interventions should address not only education but also the emotional and psychological impact of peri-domestic tick exposure.