Biodiversity Indices and Medically Importance of Ticks in North Khorasan Province, Northeast of Iran

Background: Ticks are considered as the main vectors for the transmission of various pathogens such as relapsing fever and CCHF to humans. This study was investigated the biodiversity indices and medically importance of ticks in North Khorasan Province, Northeast of Iran during 2015–2019. Methods: Specimens were captured from infested ruminants including cows, sheep, and goats. Additionally, tick col­lections also were performed on non-domesticated creatures such as turtles, rodents, and hedgehogs. Specimens were identified using valid identification keys. Species diversity, species richness and evenness indices have been calculated to estimate species biodiversity of ticks. Results: A total of 1478 adult ticks were collected. The specimens were from two families: Ixodidae (90.05%) and Ar­gasidae (9.95%), 6 genera and 17 species including: Rhipicephalus sanguineus (55.9%), Rhipicephalus bursa (13.4%), Hyalomma marginatum (9.5%), Hyalomma anatolicum (9.5%), Hyalomma asiaticum (0.2%), Hyalomma aegyptium (0.5%), Hyalomma scupense (1.3%), Hyalomma sp (1.2%), Haemaphysalis sulcata (0.7%), Haemaphysalis erinacea (0.1%), Haemaphysalis inermis (0.1%), Haemaphysalis punctata (0.2%), Haemaphysalis concinna (0.1% Boophilus annulatus (1.2), and Dermacentor marginatus (6.1%) among hard ticks as well as Argas persicus (91.8%) and Argas reflexus (8.2%) amongst soft ticks. Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Rh. Bursa, Hy. marginatum and Hy. anatolicum were known as the most frequent species of hard ticks. Tick’s species richness, Shannon diversity index and Simpson index in this area were S= 17, H’= 1.69, D= 0.294 respectively. Conclusion: Based on tick distribution veterinary authority, public health organizations and other officials should act for implementation of disease prevention.

Occurrence of juvenile Dermacentor reticulatus ticks in three regions in Poland: the final evidence of the conquest

Background Two populations of Dermacentor reticulatus ticks (Western and Eastern) in Poland are among the most dynamic tick populations in Central Europe. Expansion and settlement of ticks in new localizations depend on the presence of suitable hosts, for both adult and juvenile ticks. Methods The current study was planned to complement our previous studies on questing adult ticks and was focused on a collection of juvenile D. reticulatus ticks from rodents from three regions in Poland, defined by the presence/absence of adult ticks (regions of the Western and Eastern tick population and the gap area between them) to confirm the existence of stable populations. Rodent trapping was conducted in open habitats (fallow lands, wasteland and submerged meadows) in 2016–2018 in June, July and/or August to encompass seasonal peaks of larvae and nymph activity. Results Altogether, three tick species were collected, 2866 D. reticulatus, 2141 Ixodes ricinus and 427 Haemaphysalis concinna. Dermacentor reticulatus was the most common (72.3%) and abundant (mean 17.94 ± 2.62 ticks/rodent) tick species on rodents from the Eastern region; in the Western region infestation of rodents was only 6.8%. Ixodes ricinus was found in all three regions and was the only tick species collected from rodents from the gap area. Haemaphysalis concinna was noted only in the Western region. The highest infestation of juvenile D. reticulatus was recorded on voles (Myodes and Microtus spp.), infestation of I. ricinus was the highest on Apodemus mice, and the majority of H. concinna ticks were collected from root voles Alexandromys oeconomus. Conclusions Our study confirmed a stable population of D. reticulatus in Eastern and Central Poland and a lower prevalence and mean abundance of this tick species among rodents from the Western region. A lack of juvenile D. reticulatus on rodents in Niewiadów confirmed the existence of the gap area, free of D. reticulatus ticks. Graphical abstract

Identification and molecular analysis of ixodid ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and their pathogens in Yakutia

The purpose of the research is to identify ixodid ticks and their pathogens in the left bank area of Central Yakutia. Materials and methods. The work was carried out in 2019–2020 in the left bank area of Central Yakutia. Nine ticks were collected in 2019, and 27 ticks in 2020. We studied forest shrub stations, steppe stations, meadow field stations, near-water stations and stations of settlements. To determine faunal and ecological characteristics of ectoparasites in the territory, we used standard collection methods. The tick species was determined using morphological keys by N. A. Filippova; the determination correctness was confirmed by the PCR method. The collected ticks were studied for causative agents of babesiosis and tick-borne viral encephalitis using PCR analysis. Results and discussion. One species of ixodid ticks, Ixodes persulcatus, inhabits the left bank area of Central Yakutia. Haemaphysalis concinna was not found in Yakutia. In 2008, a natural focus of blood protozoan disease of domestic reindeer appeared for the first time in Yakutia in its central zone. Recently, an increase in the number of I. persulcatus has been observed. Tick activity is recorded from the second decade of May to the second decade of August. The ground-squirrel Spermophilus parryii is the main host for the preimaginal stages. Pathogens were not detected when ticks were examined for causative agents of babesiosis and tick-borne viral encephalitis using PCR analysisd.

Pathogens detected in the tick Haemaphysalis concinna in Western Poland: known and unknown threats

In recent years, a new focus of the relict tick Haemaphysalis concinna was discovered in Western Poland, near Wolsztyn, Greater Poland voivodeship. This species may play an important role in the circulation of pathogens of medical and veterinary importance. In the present study we tested 880 juvenile ticks collected from rodents, including 427 H. concinna, 443 Ixodes ricinus and 10 Dermacentor reticulatus for three of the most common pathogens vectored by ticks in Poland: Rickettsia and Babesia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. Additionally, molecular techniques were applied for accurate identification of tick host species (the voles Microtus and Alexandromys). Our study found differences in the range and prevalence of vectored pathogens between the three tick species. DNA of all three pathogens was found in I. ricinus. In juvenile H. concinna, DNA of Babesia microti, Borrelia afzelii and Rickettsia sp. was identified. Moreover, DNA of a new unnamed Babesia species related to B. crassa, was found in two H. concinna nymphs. This genotype of Babesia was previously identified in H. concinna in the Far East and then in Central Europe. DNA of Rickettsia raoulti and B. afzelii was detected in D. reticulatus nymphs. Among rodent hosts, Alexandromys oeconomus seems to be host of the highest significance for juvenile tick stages and was the only host species with B. afzelii detected in blood samples. Using phylogenetic methods, we confirmed a clear division between rodents from the genera Microtus and Alexandromys. Moreover, we found that A. oeconomus trapped in Western Poland clustered with a Central European A. oeconomus allopatric phylogroup.

Novel Protozoans in Austria Revealed through the Use of Dogs as Sentinels for Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens

We previously isolated and cultivated the novel Rickettsia raoultii strain Jongejan. This prompted us to ask whether this strain is unique or more widely present in Austria. To assess this issue, we retrospectively screened ticks collected from dogs in 2008. Of these collected ticks, we randomly selected 75 (47 females and 28 males) Dermacentor reticulatus, 44 (21 females, 7 males, and 16 nymphs) Haemaphysalis concinna, and 55 (52 females and 3 males) ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex. Subsequently, these ticks were individually screened for the presence of tick-borne pathogens using the reverse line blot hybridization assay. In our current study, we detected DNA from the following microbes in D. reticulatus: Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia lusitaniae, Borrelia spielmanii, Borrelia valaisiana, and R. raoultii, all of which were R. raoultii strain Jongejan. In H. concinna, we found DNA of a Babesia sp., Rickettsia helvetica, and an organism closely related to Theileria capreoli. Lastly, I. ricinus was positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia garinii/Borrelia bavariensis, B. lusitaniae, B. spielmanii, B. valaisiana, Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia monacensis, and Theileria (Babesia) microti DNA. The detection of DNA of the Babesia sp. and an organism closely related to Theileria capreoli, both found in H. concinna ticks, is novel for Austria.

Ixodiphagus hookeri wasps (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in two sympatric tick species Ixodes ricinus and Haemaphysalis concinna (Ixodida: Ixodidae) in the Slovak Karst (Slovakia): ecological and biological considerations

Ixodiphagus endoparasitoid wasps are natural tick enemies that can reduce their abundance. In this study, we investigated the presence of Ixodiphagus hookeri in Haemaphysalis concinna and Ixodes ricinus ticks in the Slovak Karst (southern Slovakia) and analysed the ecological and physiological relationships in the parasitoid-host system. Unfed H. concinna and I. ricinus nymphs harvested from vegetation were fed on rabbits. The engorged specimens were kept at 25 °C and 75% RH until the emergence of the adult wasps. For the first time in Europe, we found the presence of I. hookeri in two species of ticks collected in the same locality and compared their development in these tick species. The prevalence of wasps in H. concinna and I. ricinus during their spring activity was estimated at 10.64% and 27.78%, respectively. The presence of the wasps did not affect the duration of nymph feeding. Engorged wasp-infected ticks achieved higher body mass than non-infected specimens. In both tick species, there were no differences in the length of the development period and the number and sex ratio of adult I. hookeri. The analysed indicators and characteristics of the I. hookeri wasp-tick system can be used in research on tick control.

TBE in China

The first TBE patients in China were reported in 1943, and the TBEV was isolated from the brain tissues of 2 patients in 1944 by Japanese military scientists,1 and from patients and ticks (Ixodes persulcatus and Haemaphysalis concinna) in 1952 by Chinese researchers.2 The Far Eastern viral subtype (TBEV-FE) is the endemic subtype that has been isolated from all 3 known natural foci (northeastern China, western China, and southwestern China).14 Recently a new “Himalayan subtype” of the TBEV (TBEV-HIM) was isolated from wild rodent Marmoata himalayana in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau15. The main vector of the TBEV in China is I. persulcatus.3 One recent report suggests that the TBEV-SIB is prevalent in the Uygur region (North West China)13 but epidemiological modelling indicates that the TBEV may occur even widely all over China (Figure 3).4 Likely, the disease is often missed by clinicians due to a lack of the availability of specific diagnostic assays

Ticks on game animals in the fragmented agricultural landscape of western Poland

Ticks (Acari: Ixodida) are well known external parasites of game animals that cause serious veterinary and medical problems. The occurrence and geographical distribution of different species of ticks in Western Poland have changed over the last decades. The purpose of the present study was to determine the species spectrum and prevalence of ticks parasitizing three species of game animals, the Eurasian wild boar Sus scrofa L., red deer Cervus elaphus L., and roe deer Capreolus capreolus (L.) in two hunting districts in Lubuskie Province. In addition, the distribution of ticks on the host’s body and the intensity of infestation were determined. Ticks were collected from dead animals during the hunting seasons in 2013 and 2014, over the periods from May to June and from August to December. In total, 286 specimens were examined: 138 Eurasian wild boars, 8 red deers, and 140 roe deers. Altogether, 1891 ticks were collected. Three species of ticks were determined: Ixodes ricinus (L.), Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius, 1794), and Haemaphysalis concinna (C.L. Koch, 1844). H. concinna was recorded for the first time in Lubuskie Province.