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.

Atlas of ticks (Acari: Argasidae, Ixodidae) in Germany

An updated and increased compilation of georeferenced tick locations in Germany is presented here. This data collection extends the dataset published some years ago by another 1448 new tick locations, 900 locations of which were digitized from literature and 548 locations are published here for the first time. This means that a total of 3492 georeferenced tick locations is now available for Germany. The tick fauna of Germany includes two species of Argasidae in the genera Argas and Carios and 19 species of Ixodidae in the genera Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis, and Ixodes, altogether 21 tick species. In addition, three species of Ixodidae in the genera Hyalomma (each spring imported by migratory birds) and Rhipicephalus (occasionally imported by dogs returning from abroad with their owners) are included in the tick atlas. Of these, the georeferenced locations of 23 tick species are depicted in maps. The occurrence of the one remaining tick species, the recently described Ixodes inopinatus, is given at the level of the federal states. The most common and widespread tick species is Ixodes ricinus, with records in all 16 federal states. With the exception of Hamburg, Dermacentor reticulatus was also found in all federal states. The occurrence of the ixodid ticks Ixodes canisuga, Ixodes frontalis, Ixodes hexagonus and I. inopinatus were documented in at least 11 federal states each. The two mentioned argasid tick species were also documented in numerous federal states, the pigeon tick Argas reflexus in 11 and the bat tick Carios vespertilionis in seven federal states. The atlas of ticks in Germany and the underlying digital dataset in the supplement can be used to improve global tick maps or to study the effects of climate change and habitat alteration on the distribution of tick species.

Novel Genotypes of Nidicolous Argas Ticks and Their Associated Microorganisms From Spain

The knowledge of the distribution, richness and epidemiological importance of soft ticks of the genus Argas is incomplete. In Spain, five Argas species have been recorded, including three ornitophilic nidicolous ticks, but their associated microorganisms remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate ticks from bird nests and their microorganisms. Ticks were collected extensively from natural cavities and nest-boxes used by European rollers (Coracias garrulus) and little owls (Athene noctua) in Southeastern and Central Spain. Ticks were morphologically and genetically identified and corresponding DNA/RNA tick extracts were analyzed [individually (n = 150) or pooled (n = 43)] using specific PCR assays for bacteria (Anaplasmataceae, Bartonella, Borrelia, Coxiella/Rickettsiella, and Rickettsia spp.), viruses (Flaviviruses, Orthonairoviruses, and Phenuiviruses), and protozoa (Babesia/Theileria spp.). Six Argas genotypes were identified, of which only those of Argas reflexus (n = 8) were identified to the species level. Two other genotypes were closely related to each other and to Argas vulgaris (n = 83) and Argas polonicus (n = 33), respectively. These two species have not been previously reported from Western Europe. Two additional genotypes (n = 4) clustered with Argas persicus, previously reported in Spain. The remaining genotype (n = 22) showed low sequence identity with any Argas species, being most similar to the African Argas africolumbae. The microbiological screening revealed infection with a rickettsial strain belonging to Rickettsia fournieri and Candidatus Rickettsia vini group in 74.7% of ticks, mainly comprising ticks genetically related to A. vulgaris and A. polonicus. Other tick endosymbionts belonging to Coxiella, Francisella and Rickettsiella species were detected in ten, one and one tick pools, respectively. In addition, one Babesia genotype, closely related to avian Babesia species, was found in one tick pool. Lastly, Anaplasmataceae, Bartonella, Borrelia, and viruses were not detected. In conclusion, five novel Argas genotypes and their associated microorganisms with unproven pathogenicity are reported for Spain. The re-use of nests between and within years by different bird species appears to be ideal for the transmission of tick-borne microorganisms in cavity-nesting birds of semiarid areas. Further work should be performed to clarify the taxonomy and the potential role of soft Argas ticks and their microorganisms in the epidemiology of zoonoses.

Methods of protection against ticks (Acari: Ixodida)

Kleszcze (Acari: Ixodida) należą do roztoczy, pasożytujących najczęściej na gadach, ptakach i ssakach. Ze względu na znaczenie epidemiologiczne, epizootiologiczne, jak również bezpośrednią szkodliwość wśród ludzi i zwierząt, zaliczają się do jednych z najgroźniejszych pasożytów zewnętrznych. Na całym świecie stwierdzono występowanie około 850 gatunków kleszczy, w Polsce, do tej pory stwierdzono 19 gatunków stale występujących w faunie naszego kraju. Bytują one w różnych siedliskach od terenów nizinnych aż po tereny górskie, zajmując takie miejsca jak: lasy, tereny zieleni, strychy budynków w tym mieszkalnych i gospodarskich, nory, jamy zwierząt, jaskinie. Coraz częstsze występowanie kleszczy w bliskim otoczeniu człowieka i zwierząt przydomowych oraz domowych stwarza idealne warunki do przenoszenia patogenów chorób odkleszczowych. Nie ma wątpliwości, że stale poszukiwane są wszelkie sposoby ochrony osobistej i działania środowiskowe, chroniące przed atakami kleszczy oraz przed konsekwencjami jakie mogą wystąpić po żerowaniu pasożyta. References: Aboelhadid, S.M., Kamel, A.A., Arafa, W.M., Shokier, K.A. (2013). Effect of Allium sativum and Allium cepa oils on different stages of Boophilus annulatus. Parasitology Research, 112(5), 1883–1890. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-013-3344-0 Angelo, I.C., Tunholi-Alves, V.M., Tunholi, V.M., Perinotto, W.M., Gôlo, P.S., Camargo, M.G., Quinelato, S., Pinheiro, J., Bittencourt, V.R. (2015). Physiological changes in Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) experimentally infected with entomopathogenic fungi. Parasitology Research, 114(1), 219–225. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-4181-5 Argas reflexus Fabricius: https://zeckenrollen.de/zecken/zeckenarten-in-deutschland/ Bezuidenhout, J.D., Stutterheim, C.J. (1980). A critical evaluation of the role played by the red-billed oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus in the biological control of ticks. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 47(2), 51–75. Birkett, M.A., Hassanali, A., Hoglund, S., Pettersson, J., Pickett, J.A. (2011). Repellent activity of catmint, Nepeta cataria, and iridoid nepetalactone isomers against Afro-tropical mosquitoes, ixodid ticks and red poultry mites. Phytochemistry, 72(1), 109-14. DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2010.09.016 Castellanos, A.A., Medeiros, M.C., Hamer, G.L., Morrow, M.E., Eubanks, M.D., Teel, P.D., Hamer, S.A., Light, J.E. (2016). Decreased small mammal and on-host tick abundance in association with invasive red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta). Biology Letters, 12(9), 20160463. DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2016.0463 Collatz, J., Selzer, P., Fuhrmann, A., Oehme, R.M., Mackenstedt, U., Kahl, O., Steidle, J.L.M. (2010). A hidden beneficial: biology of the tick-wasp Ixodiphagus hookeri in Germany. Journal of Applied Entomology, 135(5), 351–358. DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0418.2010.01560.x Duffy, D.C., Downer, R., Brinkley, C. (1992). The effectiveness of Helmeted Guineafowl in the control of the deer tick, the vector of Lyme disease. The Wilson Bulletin, 104, 342–345. Ghosh, S., Sharma, A.K., Kumar, S., Tiwari, S.S., Rastogi, S., Srivastava, S., Singh, M., Kumar, R., Paul, S., Ray, D.D., Rawat, A.K. (2011). In vitro and in vivo efficacy of Acorus calamus extract against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Parasitology Research, 108(2), 361–370. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-010-2070-0 Gliniewicz, A., Borecka, A., Przygodzka, M., Mikulak, E. (2019). Susceptibility of Dermacentor reticulatus ticks to repelents containing different active ingrediens. Przegląd epidemiologiczny, 73(1), 117–125. DOI: 10.32394/pe.73.13 Godara, R., Parveen, S., Katoch, R., Yadav, A., Katoch, M., Khajuria, J.K., Kaur, D., Ganai, A., Verma, P.K., Khajuria, V., Singh, N.K. (2015). Acaricidal activity of ethanolic extract of Artemisia absinthium against Hyalomma anatolicum ticks. Experimental and Applied Acarology, 65(1), 141–148. DOI: 10.1007/s10493-014-9843-6 Ixodes ricinus L. female: https://www.gmx.net/magazine/wissen/natur-umwelt/zecken-nutzen-33586218 Ixodiphagus hookeri Howard: http://www.zeckenhilfe.com/en/all-about-ticks/article/what-are-the-natural-enemies-of-ticks-; Ixodiphagus hookeri attacking a fed female tick: https://alchetron.com/Ixodiphagus-hookeri Martinez-Velazquez, M., Rosario-Cruz, R., Castillo-Herrera, G., Flores-Fernandez, J.M., Alvarez, A.H., Lugo-Cervantes, E. (2011). Acaricidal effect of essential oils from Lippia graveolens (Lamiales: Verbenaceae), Rosmarinus officinalis (Lamiales: Lamiaceae), and Allium sativum (Liliales: Liliaceae) against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae). Journal of Medical Entomology, 48(4), 822–827. DOI: 10.1603/me10140 Pålsson, K., Jaenson, T.G., Baeckström, P., Borg-Karlson, A.K. (2008). Tick repellent substances in the essential oil of Tanacetum vulgare. Journal of Medical Entomology, 45(1), 88–93. DOI: 10.1603/0022-2585(2008)45[88:TRSITE]2.0.CO;2 Pirali-Kheirabadi, K., Teixeira da Silva, J.A. (2010). Lavandula angustifolia essential oil as a novel and promising natural candidate for tick (Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus) control. Experimental Parasitology, 126(2), 184–186. DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2010.04.012 Przygodzka, M., Mikulak, E., Chmielewski, T., Gliniewicz, A. (2019). Repellents as a major element in the context of prevention of tick-borne diseases. Przegląd epidemiologiczny, 73(2), 269–280. DOI: 10.32394/pe.73.25 Samish, M., Alekseev, E. (2001). Arthropods as Predators of Ticks (Ixodoidea). Journal of Medical Entomology, 38(1), 1–11. Samish, M., Alekseev, E., Glazer, I. (2000). Biocontrol of ticks by entomopathogenic nematodes. Research update. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 916, 589–594. DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2000.tb05341.x Shaw, M.T., Keesing, F., McGrail, R., Ostfeld, R.S. (2003). Factors influencing the distribution of larval blacklegged ticks on rodent hosts. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 68, 447–452. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2003.68.447 Siuda, K. (1991). Kleszcze Polski (Acari: Ixodida). Część I. Zagadnienia ogólne. Warszawa, Wrocław: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN. [In Polish] Tanacetum vulgare L.: http://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/plants/magnoliophyta/magnoliophytina /magnoliopsida/asteraceae/tanacetum/vulgare-2.jpg