Ticks (Ixodida: Ixodidae, Amblyommidae) in south-eastern Poland and their medical and epidemiological importance
Keywords:
tick fauna, south-eastern Poland, Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes apronophorus, Ixodes trianguliceps, Ixodes hexagonus, Ixodes crenulatus, Dermacentor reticulatusAbstract
Introduction. Ixodid ticks are the major vectors of pathogens threatening animal and human health. The import ant role of those arthropods in maintaining and transmitting tickborne pathogens reinforces the need to establish the tick species that occur in the Lublin province.
Aim. The aim of the study was to summarize the results of our own investigations and literature data on the occurrence of ixodid ticks (Ixodidae, Amblyommidae) and their medical and epidemiological importance in the Lublin Province (southeastern Poland).
Material and methods. Our studies were conducted In 1998-2010 in different sites located in Lublin Province. Ticks were collected using the flagging method, chich involved sweeping the vegetation with a 1x1m white cloth. The collected tick specimens were preserved in 70% ETOH and identified to the species and the gender using a key developed by Filippova as well as by Siuda.
Results. The results show that six species of ixodid ticks have been reported so far in this region: Ixodes (Ixodes) ricinus, I. (I.) apronophorus, I. (E.) trianguliceps, I. (Ph.) hexagonus, I. (Ph.) crenulatus and D. (D.) reticulatus, which are considered as a permanent element of the fauna. Two other species – Haemaphysalis punctata (A.) and Rhipicephalus (Rh.) rossicus – have been brought by animals from other parts of the continent.
Conclusions. The geographic location and topography of the Lublin Province as well as the influence of the Continental air masses suggest that tick species from warmer climatic zones may also be found here. Data on tick prevalence in the area under study may improve our ability to predict human outbreaks of vector-borne zoonoses. The poor knowledge of the fauna in south-eastern Poland necessitates further research into the tick species composition and distribution.
References
1. Estrada-Peña A, Jongejan F. Ticks feeding on humans: a review of records on human-biting Ixodoidea with special reference to patogen transmission. Exp Appl Acarol. 1999;23(9):685-715.
2. Filippova NA. Iksodowyje kleszczy podsiem. Ixodinae.- Fauna SSSR. Paukoobraznyje 4, 3. Moskwa: Nauka; 1977.
3. Siuda K. Ticks of Poland (Acari: Ixodida). Part II. Systematics and distribution. Warsaw: Polskie Towarzystwo Parazytologiczne; 1993 (In Polish).
4. Bartosik K, Szymańska J, Buczek A. Risk to human health posed by Ixodes ricinus ticks in relation to diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities in south-eastern Poland. Zdr Publ. 2011a;121(4):263-6.
5. Bartosik K, Sitarz M, Szymańska J, Buczek A. Tick bites on humans In the agricultural and recreational areas in south-eastern Poland. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2011;18(1):151-7.
6. Wójcik-Fatla A, Szymańska J, Wdowiak L, Buczek A, Dutkiewicz J. Coincidence of three pathogens (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia microti) in Ixodes ricinus ticks in the Lublin macroregion. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2009;16(1): 151-8.
7. Biaduń W. Habitat preferences of the common tick Ixodes ricinus L. In Lublin region. Wiad Parazytol. 2008;54(2):117-22 (inPolish). 8. Biaduń W, Krasnodębski S. Occurrence of the common tick Ixodes ricinus L. In environments of various degree and character of anthropogenic impact. Wiad Parazytol. 2007;53(2):133-7 (inPolish).
9. Kadulski, S. The occurrence of parasitic arthropods on the game Lagomorpha and Artiodactyla of Poland - a trial synthesis. Zeszyty Naukowe Uniwesytetu Gdańskiego. Rozprawy i Monografie. 1989;132;1-140 (in Polish).
10. Siński E, Pawełczyk A, Bajer A, Behnke JM. Abundance of wild rodents, ticks and environmental risk of Lyme borreliosis: a longitudinal study In an area of Mazury Lakes district of Poland. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2006;13(2):295-300.
11. Michalik J, Hofman T, Buczek A, Skoracki M, Sikora B. Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks collected from vegetation and small rodents in recteational areas of the city of Poznań. J Med Entomol. 2003;40(5):690-7.
12. Buczek A, Kuśmierz A, Olszewski K, Buczek L, Czerny K, Łańcut M. Comparison of rabbit skin changes after feeding of Ixodes ricinus (L.) and Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabr.). In: BF et al., eds. Acarid Phylogeny and Evolution: Adaptation in Mites and Ticks. Dortrecht: Kulwer Academic Publisher; 2002. p.419-24.
13. Buczek A, Czerny K, Łańcut M, Buczek L, Kuśmierz A, Olszewski K. Ultrastructural examination of rabbit skin after feeding of females Ixodes ricinus (L.) (Acari: Ixodida: Ixodidae). Acta Parasitol. 2000;45:216.
14. Siński E, Karbowiak G, Siuda K, Buczek A, Jongejan F. Borrelia burgdorferi infection of ticks in some regions of Poland. Przegl Epidemiol. 1994;48(4):461-5 (in Polish).
15. Chmielewska-Badora J, Zwoliński J, Cisak E, Wójcik-Fatla A, Buczek A, Dutkiewicz J. Prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Ixodes ricinus ticks determined by polymerase chain reaction with two pairs of primers detecting 16S rRNA and ankA genes. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2007;14(2):281-5.
16. Cisak E, Chmielewska-Badora J, Rajtar B, Zwoliński J, Jabłonski L, Dutkiewicz J. Study on the occurrence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in ticks collected In Lublin region (eastern Poland). Ann Agric Environ Med. 2002;9(1):105- 10.
17. Wójcik-Fatla A, Cisak E, Zając V, Zwoliński J, Dutkiewicz J. Prevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus in Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus ticks collected from the Lublin region (eastern Poland). Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2011;2(1):16-9.
18. Sroka J, Chmielewska-Badora J, Dutkiewicz J. Ixodes ricinus as a potential vector of Toxoplasma gondii. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2003;10(1):121-3.
19. Sroka J, Szymanska J, Wojcik-Fatla A. The occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Ixodes ricinus ticks from east Poland with the use of pcr. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2009;16(2):313-9.
20. Bitkowska E, Żukowski K. Roztocze drobnych ssaków niektórych okolic północnej i wschodniej Polski (Acari: Ixodides, Mesostigmata, Trombidiformes, Sarcoptiformes). Fragm Faun. 1975;20(18):307-27 (In Polish).
21. Lachmajer J. The ecology of the tick Ixodes trianguliceps Bir., 1895. Biul Inst Med Morsk Gdańsk. 1962;13:149-60.
22. Lachmajer J. Potential harmfulness of ticks from the genus Ixodoidea In Poland. Wiad Parazytol. 1965;11 (Suppl.):171-7 (in Polish).
23. Bown KJ, Lambin X, Telford GR, Ogden NH, Telfer S, Woldehiwet Z, Birtles RJ. Relative importance of Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes trianguliceps as vectors for Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia microti in field vole (Microtus agrestis) populations. Appl Exp Microbiol. 2008;74(23):7118-25.
24. Zwolski W. Studies upon ectoparasitic fauna of small mammals In natural foci of mud fever. Wiad Parazytol. 1960;6:519-27 (in Polish).
25. Jaenson GT, Tällekint L, Lundqvist L, Olsen B, Chirico J, Mejlon H. Geographical distribution, host associations, and vector roles of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae, Argasidae) in Sweden. J Med Entomol. 1993;31(2):240-56.
26. Carter WI. A case of human parasitization by Ixodes hexagonus, Leach (Hedgehog tick). Brit Med J.1955;2(4940):1012.
27. Gern L, Toutoungi LN, Hu CM, Aeschlimann A. Ixodes (Pholeoixodes) hexagonus, an efficient vector of Borrelia burgdorferi in the laboratory. Med Vet Entomol. 1991;5(4):431-5.
28. Gern L, Rouvinez E, Toutoungi LN, Godfroid E. Transmission cycles of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato involving Ixodes ricinus and/or I. hexagonus and the European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus, In suburban and urban areas in Switzerland. Folia Parasitol. 1997;44(4):309-14.
29. Camacho AT, Pallas E, Gestal JJ, Guitián FJ, Olmeda AS, Telford III SR, Spielman A. Ixodes hexagonus is the main candidate as vector of Theileria annae in northwest Spain. Vet Parasitol. 2003;112(1-2):157 63.
30. Dutkiewicz J, Siuda K. Nowe stanowisko kleszczy Dermacentor pictus Herm. w południowej Lubelszczyźnie. Med Wet. 1969;25:44-7.
31. Szymański S. Distribution of the tick Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius, 1794) (Ixodidae) in Poland. Acta Parasitol Pol. 1986;31;143-54.
32. Biaduń W, Chybowski J, Najda N. A new records of Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius, 1794) in Lublin region. Wiad Parazytol. 2007;53(1):29-32 (in Polish).
33. Hoogstraal H, Valdez R. Ticks (Ixodoidea) from wild sheep and goats In Iran and medical and veterinary implications. Fieldiana Zool. 1980;6:13-6.
34. Dutkiewicz J, Siuda K. Rhipicephalus rossicus Jakimov et Kohl- Jakimova, 1911- nowy dla fauny Polski rodzaj i gatunek kleszcza (Acarina, Ixodidae). Fragm Faun. 1969;15(8):99-105.
35. Walker JB, Keirans JE, Horak IG. The Genus Rhipicephalus (Acari, Ixodidae). A Guide to the Brown Ticks of the World. Cambridge Univ. Press; 2000. p.643.
