Infestation of mice and voles with<i>Ixodes ricinus</i>ticks in Lithuania and Norway

Paulauskas, Algimantas; Radzijevskaja, Jana; Rosef, Olav; Turčinavičienė, Jurga; Ambrasienė, Daiva

doi:10.3176/eco.2009.2.05

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In the present study, examined A. flavicollis, M. glareolus and M. minutus rodents were infested with I. ricinus ticks, the main vector for R. helvetica. In previous studies conducted in Lithuania, it has been shown that A. flavicollis mice and M. glareolus voles are frequently infested with immature I. ricinus ticks, with a higher prevalence of infestation detected in A. flavicollis [25] .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

First detection of Rickettsia helvetica in small mammals in Lithuania

Mardosaitė-Busaitienė

Radzijevskaja

Balčiauskas

et al. 2018

New Microbes and New Infections

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A total of 489 small mammals belonging to seven species captured in Lithuania during 2013–2014 were investigated for Rickettsia pathogens. The overall prevalence of Rickettsia spp. was 27.6%, with a higher prevalence detected in Micromys minutus (45.9%), followed by Apodemus flavicollis (29.4%), Sorex araneus (25%) and Myodes glareolus (23.7%). Sequence analysis of the gltA gene and the 17 kDa protein coding gene revealed the presence Rickettsia helvetica. This study demonstrates not only the first reported presence of R. helvetica in small mammals in Lithuania but also the first report of R. helvetica in M. minutus more generally.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

First detection of Rickettsia helvetica in small mammals in Lithuania

Mardosaitė-Busaitienė

Radzijevskaja

Balčiauskas

et al. 2018

New Microbes and New Infections

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This type of behaviour reflects physiological adaptation of D. marginatus to conditions of limited access to the food source. Co-parasitism of various tick species on the same animals [ 13 ] and humans [ 14 ] has been reported in natural conditions. In Spain, 9 % of 3685 patients infested by ticks were attacked by two or a greater number of species [ 14 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Host-feeding behaviour of Dermacentor reticulatus and Dermacentor marginatus in mono-specific and inter-specific infestations

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Given the sympatric occurrence in some regions of Europe and the great epidemiological significance of D. reticulatus and D. marginatus species, we investigated the behaviour of these ticks during inter-specific and mono-specific host infestations. Findings: The investigations were conducted on rabbits at 20 ± 3°C and humidity of 38 ± 1 %. The inter-specific infestations groups consisted of 20 females and ten males of D. marginatus and 20 females and ten males of D. reticulatus on each host, whereas mono-specific infestations involved 40 females and 20 males of each species. The investigations have demonstrated competition between the two tick species resulting in modification of the behaviour on the host and the feeding course in D. marginatus females by the presence of D. reticulatus. In the inter-specific group, D. marginatus females attached for a longer time (mean 2.74 ± 1.12 h) than in the mono-specific group (mean 1.24 ± 0.97 h) (p < 0.0001). The feeding period of these females was shorter (9.45 ± 1.30 days) than in the mono-specific group (13.15 ± 2.53 days) (p < 0.0001), but they exhibited a statistically significantly higher body weight in comparison with the females from the mono-specific infestation (p = 0.0155). In D. reticulatus females, no significant difference was found in the host attachment and feeding rates between the mono-specific and inter-specific groups. Conclusions: The differences in the behaviour of the females from both species during co-feeding reflect physiological adaptation to environmental conditions, which enables them to ingest blood and reproduce. During co-feeding of D. reticulatus and D. marginatus on the same host, two inter-specific systems with different physiological features are formed, which may influence the transmission of tick-borne pathogens.

show abstract

“…The time pattern of infestation of small rodents by immature ticks might be the combined result of the effects of factors associated with both the parasites, and the hosts (Rosà et al, 2007;Paulauskas et al, 2009;Paziewska et al, 2010;Pérez et al, 2012;Estrada-Peña et al, 2013). As a consequence, conclusions on seasonal activity of ticks, based upon rodent infestation, must be drawn with caution.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%