Survey on vector tick populations and healthcare worker awareness of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in Daxing District,Beijing
GAN Yadi
LYU Shouming
LI Zhiping
YANG Yingying
GAO Yanqing
HU Yue
LI Mengnan
Abstract：Objective To investigate the tick species distribution,Dabie bandavirus infection rate,and healthcare workers' knowledge of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome(SFTS)in Daxing District,Beijing,so as to provide evidence for the prevention and control of tick-borne diseases such as SFTS.Methods Questing ticks were surveyed using the flagging method in residential green belts,green spaces(woodlands),and parks from April to October 2024.On-host ticks were collected from veterinary hospitals.Tick species were identified morphologically,and Dabie bandavirus was detected using molecular methods.Additionally,a questionnaire survey was conducted to assess healthcare workers' knowledge of SFTS,and the comparison of awareness rates was performed using the Chi-square test.Results A total of 6 tick species belonging to 4 genera and 1 family were identified in Daxing District,with Haemaphysalis longicornis being the dominant species(102/166,61.45％).The average density of questing ticks was 0.06 ticks/(flag·100 m)and no Dabie bandavirus was detected.Among healthcare workers,the overall awareness rate of SFTS was 78.49％,with significantly higher awareness observed in tertiary hospitals compared to community hospitals(x2=6.153,P=0.013).Identified knowledge deficiencies included:whether SFTS was classified as a notifiable infectious disease,appropriate clinical management following tick bites,availability of specific antiviral drugs for SFTS treatment and existence of a preventive vaccine against SFTS.Conclusion There are abundant tick species in Daxing District,with H.longicornis being the dominant tick species.The prevention and control of ticks,SFTS and other tick-borne diseases should be strengthened.
Keywords：tickspetstick-borne diseasessevere fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome
Publication Date：2026-02-20
Online Publishing Date：2026-04-02(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：4( 100-103 )