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European societies have become more ethnically diverse in the last few decades. But ethnic diversity often goes hand in hand with the spatial segregation of some neighborhoods. Social work institutions and projects are concentrated in these neighborhoods as well. As such, it is necessary for social work to focus on intergroup relations in these diverse neighborhoods. Through the example of Dortmund, Germany, this article discusses how the challenges of diversity can be integrated into the social work curriculum, and it also discusses the literature on intergroup contact and spatially segregated diversity. To demonstrate the practical challenges of a diverse neighborhood, the example of Nordstadt, a highly diverse neighborhood in Dortmund, is discussed briefly. The article also examines a specialized study program at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts as an example of how social workers can be educated to cope with the challenges of diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geographic patterns of transmission opportunities of vector-borne zoonoses are determined by a complex interplay between the migration patterns of the host and the vector. Here we examine the impact of host migration on the spread of a tick-borne zoonotic disease, using Lyme Borreliosis (LB) spirochaetal species in Europe. We demonstrate that the migration of the LB species is dependent on and limited by the migration of their respective hosts. We note that populations of Borrelia spp. associated with birds ( Borrelia garinii and B. valaisiana) show limited geographic structuring between countries compared with those associated with small mammals ( Borrelia afzelii), and we argue that this can be explained by higher rates of migration in avian hosts. We also show the presence of B. afzelii strains in England and, through the use of the multi-locus sequence analysis scheme, reveal that the strains are highly structured. This pattern in English sites is very different from that observed at the continental sites, and we propose that these may be recent introductions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assesses the genetic diversity of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in individual adult Ixodes ricinus ticks from Europe by direct PCR amplification of spirochetal DNA followed by genospecies-specific hybridization. Infection of questing adult Ixodes ricinus with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato; Physiological and immunological factors that shape the diversity of Borrelia burgdorfer sensu lato in ticks.

Abstract: The roles of selection and migration of B. burgdorferi s. l. were studied. Questing adult Ixodes ricinus ticks were collected across Europe and analysed for infection with B. burgdorferi s. l. Analysis of the genospecies in individual ticks showed that B. garinii and B. valaisiana segregate from B. afzelii. Segregation of bird- and rodent-associated Borrelia genotypes can be explained by the operation of complement-mediated selection in the midgut of the feeding tick. Phylogenese analyses of B. burgdorferi s. l. indicate high rates of migration for bird-associated genotypes. Altogether, it is emerging that the ecology of Lyme borreliosis is largely host-driven and that selection and migration are major forces shaping the population structures of B. burgdorferi s. l. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]