Tick Species (Acari: Ixodoidea) Distribution, Seasonality and Host Associations in Romania

Abstract

By integrating the literature data with those derived from personal investigations, the authors present the distribution of the 27 tick species (25 ixodids and 2 argasids) identified up to now in Romania, as well as some aspects regarding their abundance, seasonality and host associations. Altogether, 1439 tick records (of which 256, covering 25 counties, belong to the authors themselves) were georeferenced using EpiMap (an ArcView®-compatible GIS) from CDC's EpiInfo TM software package (v. 3.5.1), on a level 2 LAU (Local Administrative Units) shapefile. The resultant distribution maps and the data on seasonality and host associations may prove to be a useful reference system for subsequent studies on different tick species' distribution, ecology and biology, as well as a predictive tool for human and veterinary medicine, bearing in mind the vectorial role that ticks play in some dangerous diseases for man and livestock.Résumé. En intégrant les données de la littérature avec les résultats d'enquêtes personnelles, les auteurs présentent la distribution des 27 espèces de tiques (25 ixodides et deux argasides) identifiées en Roumanie à ce jour, et quelques données sur l'abondance, la saisonnalité et l'association avec l'hôte. Tous les 1439 enregistrements (dont 256 de 25 comtés, appartiennent aux auteurs) ont été cartographiés, à l'aide de EpiMap (un système d'information géographique compatible avec ArcView®) du logiciel EpiInfo TM (v. 3.5.1) lancée par CDC, sur un fichier vectoriel niveau LAU2 (Unités Administratives Locales). Les cartes de distribution résultées, les données de saisonnalité et celles de l'associaton avec l'hôte, peuvent alors être utiles en tant que système de référence pour des futures études sur la répartition, l'écologie et biologie des différentes espèces de tiques, ainsi que comme outils de prévision pour la médecine humaine et vétérinaire, compte tenu du rôle des tiques dans la transmission des maladies dangereuses pour l'homme et les animaux d'intérêt économique.

Mediterranean Spotted Fever in Southeastern Romania

“…Up to now, 27 tick species are known to occur in Romania, 25 of them belonging to Ixodidae family ( Dermacentor marginatus; Dermacentor reticulatus; Haemaphysalis concinna; Haemaphysalis inermis; Haemaphysalis parva; Haemaphysalis punctata; Haemaphysalis sulcata; Hyalomma aegyptium; Hyalomma detritum scupense; Hyalomma marginatum marginatum; Ixodes apronophorus; Ixodes arboricola; Ixodes crenulatus; Ixodes hexagonus; Ixodes laguri; Ixodes redikorzevi; Ixodes ricinus; Ixodes rugicollis; Ixodes simplex; Ixodes trianguliceps; Ixodes vespertilionis; Rhipicephalus annulatus; Rhipicephalus bursa; Rhipicephalus rossicus; Rhipicephalus sanguineus ) and only two to Argasidae family ( Argas persicus and Argas reflexus ) [17]. …”

“…sanguineus begins the questing activity in April and remains active throughout the warm season until November [17]. The hosts for Rh.…”

Rhipicephalus rossicus, a neglected tick at the margin of Europe: a review of its distribution, ecology and medical importance

“…Feider () and Coipan et al . () reported adults on rodents and hedgehogs in Romania during May–July, and larvae and nymphs only in July.…”

Spatial distribution of Dermacentor reticulatus in Romania

“…This tick species has recently been found in counties and areas of Romania where it was not previously documented by Feider, (1965), Coipan et al (2011), andMihalca et al (2012a,b). One possibility of the increasing knowledge on the distribution of D. reticulatus might be attributed to changes in climate and urbanization.…”

“…Feider (1965) reported D. reticulatus in the north-eastern part of Romania, mostly from domestic ruminants. Two out of three recent studies on ticks in Romania however did not detect D. reticulatus (Coipan et al, 2011;Mihalca et al, 2012a,b). Mihalca et al (2012a) reported on two specimens of D. reticulatus without citing the sampling location, stating that due to these data an extension of the range of distribution for D. reticulatus in Romania cannot be detected.…”