Influence of biotope on the distribution and peak activity of questing ixodid ticks in Hungary

Abstract

In order to update the occurrence of hard tick species in Hungary, 3442 questing ticks were collected from the vegetation by the dragging/flagging method in 37 different places in the country, between March and June of 2007. Ixodes ricinus (L.) turned out to be ubiquitous. Dermacentor marginatus (Schulzer) was absent from sampling sites in the southwestern part of the country, but in most places was concomitant and contemporaneous with Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius). These two species, as well as I. ricinus, occurred up to an altitude of 900-1000 m a.s.l. Haemaphysalis inermis (Birula) and Haemaphysalis concinna (Koch) were not confined to any parts of the country, unlike Haemaphysalis punctata (Canestrini & Fanzago) which was found in only one region. The local prevalence of the latter species was also significantly lower than those of the former two in the same habitat (fringes of meadows, paths in forests). Dermacentor spp. and H. inermis were represented only by adults. In most species females were collected more frequently than males, except in H. concinna and H. punctata. Temporal differences between the peak activity of I. ricinus and Dermacentor spp. on dry pastures appeared to equalize on meadows in mountain forests, and a similar phenomenon was observed for the three Haemaphysalis spp. when collected along forest paths with fresh, green vegetation.

Seasonally biased or single-habitat sampling is not informative on the real prevalence of Dermacentor reticulatus-borne rickettsiae — A pilot study

“…Acta Veterinaria Hungarica 65, 2017 Dermacentor reticulatus (Ixodida: Ixodidae) can be regarded as one of the most important tick species in Europe, taking into account its widespread occurrence and emerging significance in western and eastern countries of the continent (Jongejan et al, 2015;Paulauskas et al, 2015), its high abundance in Central Europe (Hornok and Farkas, 2009) and its potential to bite humans (Estrada-Peña and Jongejan, 1999). Among other zoonotic pathogens, D. reticulatus is known to be a carrier and/or vector of several Rickettsia spp., including R. raoultii, R. slovaca (Spitalská et al, 2012) and R. helvetica (Dobec et al, 2009).…”

Impact of a freeway on the dispersal of ticks and Ixodes ricinus-borne pathogens: forested resting areas may become Lyme disease hotspots

“…in Hungary (Hornok and Farkas, 2009). Temperature and humidity were concordant in the two grasslands (habitat-3 and habitat-7) of the present study (data not shown), and Dermacentor spp.…”

“…Habitat types included: (a) 'deciduous forests' (mainly native oak trees, but also planted Robinia) with dense green lower vegetation; (b) 'groves' with sporadic trees and bushes; as well as (c) 'grassland' with scattered shrubs. These habitat types and the sampling period were chosen on the basis of known biotope preferences and seasonal activities of the most important ixodid tick species in Hungary (Hornok, 2009;Hornok and Farkas, 2009). The following eight individual (numbered) habitats, belonging to one of the above three types, were evaluated: three (habitat-1, -4, -8) 'deciduous forests', three (habitat-2, -5, -6) 'groves' and two (habitat-3, -7) 'grasslands' (Fig.…”

Distribution of hard tick species in Ankara, Turkey

“…Most of the published tick studies deal with its occurrence on domestic animals (Yukarı and Umur, 2002;Yay, 2004;Bakirci et al, 2012) or humans (Gargılı et al, 2010;Bursali et al, 2010;Karaer et al, 2011;Kar et al, 2013). However, comprehensive information about tick biology and ecology should be obtained by collecting unfed ticks, as tick species prefer different host species (Babos, 1965;Hornok and Farkas, 2009). The risk of humans or animals contracting CCHF disease and other tick-borne diseases might be directly linked to the questing activity of ticks.…”