Electromagnetic radiation and behavioural response of ticks: an experimental test

2018 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 2156

In a laboratory radiation-shielded tube test, exposure to 900 MHz RF-EMF was associated with a higher concentration of ticks on the irradiated arm compared with control (0 MHz) and 5000 MHz. Exposure to 5000 MHz was associated with ticks moving to the shielde…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2018

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Electromagnetic radiation and behavioural response of ticks: an experimental test Vargová B, Majláth I, Kurimský J, Cimbala R, Kosterec M, Tryjanowski P, Jankowiak Ł, Raši T, Majláthová V. Electromagnetic radiation and behavioural response of ticks: an experimental test. Exp Appl Acarol. 2018 Mar 31. doi: 10.1007/s10493-018-0253-z. 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. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Excerpts The results of testing D. reticulatus ticks in RST multi tubes revealed that ticks are attracted significantly more to a frequency of 900 MHz RF-EMF frequency in comparison to control or 5000 MHz RF-EMF frequency. Lázaro et al. (2016) found similar phenomenon in wild bees and bee flies which were attracted by the source of artificial EMF exposure in natural habitat (Lázaro et al. 2016). However, the exposure to 900 MHz FR-EMF radiation on D. reticulatusc showed specific behavioural response of ticks, the reaction was presented by unusual specific sudden movements during the RF-EMF exposition, which was described as a body jerking or leg jerking (Vargová et al. 2017). According to our laboratory findings, we hypothesize that RF-EMF radiation could influence the distribution of ticks in the natural habitats. The RF-EMF radiation of various frequencies can be, besides humidity, temperature or host presence, one of the factors causing non-homogenous or rather mosaic distribution of ticks in the natural habitats. We confirmed the extraordinary preference and active movement of D. reticulatus ticks towards the electromagnetic field from the radio wave spectrum of 900 MHz frequency. This RF-EMF tick preference may point to a new phenomenon with possibly important ecological and epidemiological consequences. Increasing electromagnetic waves by using personal electronic devices in natural habitats where ticks occur could increase the risk tick infestation and diseases transmission. Further studies should be undertaken to support this hypothesis, which analyse the impact of RF-EMF directly in the natural habitats of ticks.

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal

Effect directionmixed

PopulationDermacentor reticulatus ticks

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Tick behavioral response/affinity (distribution in radiation-shielded tube arms)
Tick movement responses (e.g., body/leg jerking described during exposure)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in provided abstract/excerpts
Exposure intensity/dosimetry (e.g., SAR, field strength) not reported in provided abstract/excerpts
Laboratory anechoic-chamber setup may not generalize to natural habitats (projection to environment described as hypothesis)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Dermacentor reticulatus ticks",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Tick behavioral response/affinity (distribution in radiation-shielded tube arms)",
    "Tick movement responses (e.g., body/leg jerking described during exposure)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In a laboratory radiation-shielded tube test, exposure to 900 MHz RF-EMF was associated with a higher concentration of ticks on the irradiated arm compared with control (0 MHz) and 5000 MHz. Exposure to 5000 MHz was associated with ticks moving to the shielded arm (escape response).",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in provided abstract/excerpts",
    "Exposure intensity/dosimetry (e.g., SAR, field strength) not reported in provided abstract/excerpts",
    "Laboratory anechoic-chamber setup may not generalize to natural habitats (projection to environment described as hypothesis)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "RF-EMF",
    "radiofrequency",
    "900 MHz",
    "5000 MHz",
    "ticks",
    "Dermacentor reticulatus",
    "behavior",
    "preference",
    "avoidance",
    "anechoic chamber",
    "horn antenna"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1007/s10493-018-0253-z
PubMed: Not supplied

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