Côte-d'Or: How deer help detect the risk of Lyme disease

The Zoonoses Control and Intervention Agreement (Eliz) is a public institution serving departmental authorities. Its mission is to study and combat zoonoses transmitted to humans by wildlife, such as Lyme disease, transmitted by ticks.

Ticks like to take up residence in the fur of deer, even if it means contaminating them with various pathogens, particularly Borrelia, the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease in humans. Illustrative photo provided by the ONF — Ticks like to take up residence in the fur of deer, even if it means infecting them with various pathogens, particularly Borrelia, the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease in humans. Illustrative photo provided by the ONF

In 2023, the Zoonoses Control and Intervention Agreement (Eliz) launched a study across Côte-d'Or, aiming "to measure and map, at the departmental level, the risk of exposure to Lyme disease." To carry out this initiative, Eliz was able to count on the support of the departmental council as well as the departmental laboratory , which played a key role in the financing and scientific analysis of the project.

This study relies on the use of roe deer, which are sentinels of the risk associated with tick-borne diseases. "Exposure of deer to infected tick bites causes them to produce specific antibodies against these bacteria, which can then be detected...

...to read more, join our community of subscribers

and access all of our articles on the website and mobile app

from €1 for the first month, with no long-term commitment

{'skus': ['lbpswgpremium16']}

Google: €1 for the first month, then €12.99