Definition of three seasons
We defined three seasons: season 1 for early spring (beginning of nymph
activity and of small mammal reproduction), season 2 for the end of
spring/early summer (peak of nymph activity and of small mammal
reproduction) and season 3 for end of summer/early autumn (decrease of
nymph and small mammal abundance levels). Given the small number of
positives, we grouped data per season.
For small mammals, season 1 corresponded to the captures of April;
season 2 grouped the captures of early June and July; and season 3
grouped the captures of early September and October. For each season, we
listed each small mammal individuals captured along with its tick
infestation status, TBEV seropositive status, and the number of captures
(one or two). An individual was considered to be infested by ticks and
TBEV seropositive in season 2 (respectively season 3) if it was found to
be infested by at least one tick and TBEV seropositive in June or/and
July (respectively in September or/and October). Similarly, an
individual found to be infested by ticks or TBEV seropositive in at
least one of the five trapping sessions of the year (from April to
October) was considered positive in the year.
For questing ticks, season 1 corresponded to data for early May; season
2 grouped data for early June and July; and season 3 grouped data for
early August, September and October.