Geographical distribution, climate adaptation and vector competence of the Eurasian hard tick Haemaphysalis concinna

Abstract

The ixodid tick Haemaphysalis concinna Koch, 1844 is a proven vector of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus and Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularaemia. In the present study, up-to-date maps depicting the geographical distribution and climate adaptation of H. concinna are presented. A dataset was compiled, resulting in 656 georeferenced locations in Eurasia. The distribution of H. concinna ranges from the Spanish Atlantic coast to Kamchatka, Russia, within the belt of 28-64° N latitude. H. concinna is the second most abundant tick species after Ixodes ricinus collected from birds, and third most abundant tick species flagged from vegetation in Central Europe. To investigate the climate adaptation of H. concinna, the georeferenced locations were superimposed on a high-resolution map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification. A frequency distribution of the H. concinna occurrence under different climates shows three peaks related to the following climates: warm temperate with precipitation all year round, boreal with precipitation all year round and boreal, winter dry. Almost 87.3 % of all H. concinna locations collected are related to these climates. Thus, H. concinna prefers climates with a warm and moist summer. The remaining tick locations were characterized as cold steppes (6.2%), cold deserts (0.8%), Mediterranean climates (2.7%) or warm temperate climates with dry winter (2.9%). In those latter climates H. concinna occurs only sporadically, provided the microclimate is favourable. Beyond proven vector competence pathogen findings in questing H. concinna are compiled from the literature.

First record of Haemaphysalis concinna (Acari: Ixodidae) in Lower Silesia, SW Poland

“…In Central Europe, adult H. concinna ticks are chiefly active from May to July, nymphs from mid-April to mid-October, and larvae from late May to mid-October (Rubel et al 2018). In our study, carried out from March to September, all specimens of H. concinna were collected from May to August, of which: adults were collected only in May, nymphs from May to August, and larvae from June to August.…”

“…Haemaphysalis concinna is a non-nidicolous tick with a three-host development cycle which is usually completed within 3 years. The hosts of H. concinna are both wild and domestic animals, including small and medium-sized mammals, birds, and reptiles (Nowak-Chmura and Siuda 2012; Hornok et al 2016;Meng et al 2016;Rubel et al 2018). Humans can be attacked by nymphs and adults (Nowak-Chmura and Siuda 2012).…”

“…Haemaphysalis concinna can be found in different habitats, most often in well-lit deciduous and mixed forests with bushy undergrowth, forest clearings, lake shores, and river valleys, as well as forest steppes and wet steppe habitats (Nosek 1971;Siuda 1993;Nowak-Chmura and Siuda 2012;Rubel et al 2018). The medical and veterinary significance of H. concinna is related to its proven vector role in the tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus and tularemia-causing bacteria Francisella tularensis (Rubel et al 2018). Infection with other pathogens has also been detected, including severe fever with the thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (Meng et al 2015), Rickettsia spp.…”

“…Haemaphysalis concinna occurs in the temperate climate zone of a large part of Eurasia, between 28° and 64° north latitude, from Spain in the west to Japan and Kamchatka, Russia, in the east (Rubel et al 2018). However, the range of its occurrence is discontinuous (Siuda 1993).…”

Diversity, ecology, and seasonality of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in eastern Croatia

“…Haemaphysalis concinna was collected in 12 localities by the dragging‐flagging method. In central Europe, H. concinna was the third most abundant tick species flagged from vegetation (Rubel et al ). A monophasic activity was observed for H. concinna .…”