A new focus of the tick Haemaphysalis concinna in Western Poland

• DOI: 10.1007/s10493-019-00371-7
• Publication Date: 2019-05-22T11:59:50Z
• Authors: Dorota Dwużnik; Ewa J. Mierzejewska; Mohammed Alsarraf; Anna Bajer
• Keywords: Animal ecology; Haemaphysalis; Dermacentor reticulatus

The relict tick Haemaphysalis concinna has a fragmented and focal distribution in Central Europe Asia. Although the majority of neighboring countries occurrence this species is well-documented (i.e., Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine), to-date its Poland been registered only once, 1953 Troszyn North-Western Pomerania, close to German-Polish border. In present study we report first documented finding H. Western Poland, confirmed both by collection juvenile ticks from rodent hosts questing vegetation. Trapping rodents took place summer 2018 three locations (Słonin, Nowy Młyn 1, 2). Rodents were inspected for ectoparasites, which detached fixed 70% ethanol. All collected assigned developmental stages using appropriate morphological keys, representative individuals genotyped molecular methods. A total 1482 feeding 106 sites. common Ixodes ricinus was found abundance on small at all sites; Dermacentor reticulatus identified two sites numbers and, finally, numerous (n = 427) one our (Nowy highest prevalence recorded voles, Microtus agrestis M. oeconomus, site August. Additionally, nymphs adult locally vegetation 20). Genotyping phylogenetic analysis as concinna. new focus described Poland. Our long-term field work monitoring expansion D. during are identified, suggests that still very rare country.