Mollov I., D. Georgiev, O. Todorov (Eds.) Faunistic diversity of the city of Plovdiv (Bulgaria), Volume 1 – Invertebrates Bulletin of the Natural History Museum – Plovdiv Bull. Nat. Hist. Mus. Plovdiv, 2018, Supplement 1: 37-46 Species Composition, Distribution and Seasonal Dynamics of Ixodidae Ticks Invaded Pasture Animals in the Region of Plovdiv City Atanas Arnaudov1*, Dimo Arnaudov2 1 - University of Plovdiv „Paisii Hilendarski“, Faculty of Biology, Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, 24 Tzar Assen Str., BG-4000 Plovdiv, BULGARIA 2 - Regional Research Veterinary Institute, BG-4006 Plovdiv, BULGARIA * Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract. Based on literary data and our own research, it was found out that there are 11 species of ixodid ticks that parasitise in pasture animals in the region of Plovdiv City. Their distribution, biological features and ecological and epidemiological significance are described in the current synopsis. Key words: biotopes, Ixodid ticks, Plovdiv Region, tick sampling. Introduction bixenic and trixenic) ticks consecutively parasitise Ixodid ticks are temporary obligate blood- on two or three different host species (VASILEV & sucking ectoparasites in vertebrates. Most of them VISHNYAKOV, 1977). parasitise on mammals, including on marsupials Ixodid ticks have great epidemiological and monotremes. Less frequently, the hosts could importance. They can transmit the causative be reptiles and birds, and there are few cases found agents of infectious or protozoal diseases on amphibians (Bufo marinus Gran.) and even on transovarially and through three-phase invertebrates - coleoptera (Platymeris horrida) and transmission, and also keep the pathogens molluscs (Limicolaria adansoni Pfr.) throughout their biological existence, which (POMERANTZEV, 1950). Ixodid ticks are makes them an important reservoir. commonly found worldwide and the largest species The populations of these arthropods contain diversity is characteristic for the subtropical and the genes that determine their effectiveness as tropical areas (BALASHOV, 1967). vectors of infectious diseases in their The duration of the development cycle of the heterozygous recessive alleles. Among species and different tick species varies depending on their populations, there are significant variations in the biological characteristics and the environmental vector's ability to carry pathogenic conditions they live in, ranging from 1 to 3-4 years. microorganisms. Their effectiveness as vectors of Based on their development and feeding transmissible infections is also influenced by age, patterns, the ixodid ticks can have one, two or nutrition and physiological state (MONOV, 2010). three hosts. One-host (or monoxenic) ticks spend In this publication, we present data from our all stages of their biological development on the own research, as well as from other authors on skin of the same host. Two- and three-host (or the distribution of ticks in the region of Plovdiv © Bull. Nat. Hist. Mus. Plovdiv Regional Natural History Museum – Plovdiv http://rnhm.org/en/ University of Plovdiv Publishing House Species Composition, Distribution and Seasonal Dynamics of Ixodidae Ticks Invaded... City, their biological characteristics and their (2004), MANGOLD et al. (1994), OMERAGIC ecological and epidemiological significance. (2011), PAPADOPOULOS et al. (1996), PAVLOVIĆ et al. (2013; 2014; 2016), RUBEL et al. (2016) and Material and Methods others. The ixodid tick hosts, which were investigated In Bulgaria, there are representatives of all six in our research, lived in farms that had different ixodid tick genera that are characteristic for the number of animals and were located in the continental temperate climate zone – municipalities of Asenovgrad, Parvomay, Sadovo, Rhipicephalus (Koch, 1844), Ixodes (Latreille, Saedinenie, Stamboliyski and Rodopi. Samples 1795), Dermacentor (Koch, 1844), Hyalomma were collected from sheep, goats, cattle and dogs (C. Z. Koch, 1844), Boophilus (Curtice, 1891), and and the investigations were conducted during the Haemaphysalis (Koch, 1844) (MINCHEVA et al., period 1999-2016, with some interruptions. 1965). According to DRENSKI (1955), The animals were examined monthly, during approximately 32 species can be found in the grazing period from their leave to the pasture Bulgaria. They are described in detail by BERON to their return to the barn (March - October). The (1973-1974). Most of the studies on the tick fauna examination of the animals for invasion was in Bulgaria, however, took place more than 4 performed in the following order: head (between decades ago. the horns and ears), neck, back, under the tail, groin, udder. After the collection, the tick samples MINCHEVA et al. (1965) collected and were stored in a 70% ethyl alcohol solution. identified more than 350,000 ticks from all over Determining the species of the collected ticks the country, describing their biotopes in every was carried out in the Laboratory of Parasitology region of the country, their epizootic significance at the Regional Research Institute of Veterinary and the seasonal variations of the parasites, as well Medicine, Plovdiv and in the laboratory at the as cases of piroplasmosis caused by them in Department of Anatomy and Physiology at the regions with diverse climate. According to the University of Plovdiv “Paisii Hilendarski”. The authors, in the Plovdiv region can be found 10 collected ixodid tick specimens were observed ixodid tick species within the six genera using a CARL ZEISS JENA binocular magnifier. mentioned above. The species determination was performed The studies on the species composition and the distribution of the ticks in the Plovdiv Region according to the descriptions of POMERANTSEV were triggered by the outbreak of the first (1950) and ESTRADA-PENA et al. (2004). epidemic of tick-borne encephalitis in Bulgaria in the village of Iskra in the region of Parvomay Results and Discussion Town in 1953. Studies on the distribution, species Similar studies were reported by SARBOVA composition and seasonal dynamics of ticks (1956) and PAVLOV et al. (1962) for the region of the village of Iskra in the municipality of conducted in Bulgaria and in other countries The dynamics of the global climate change Parvomay; GEORGIEV et al. (1971) and PAVLOV create a risk of drastic changes in the species et al. (1972) within a mass study of a viral composition of the ticks in a given geographic encephalitis epidemic on sheep and goats in the area (ESTRADA-PEÑA & VENZAL, 2007). This village of Dobrostan, Asenovgrad Municipality; necessitates further studies on the species ARNAUDOV et al. (2014) for the region of composition and the distribution of ixodid ticks. Parvomay; ARNAUDOV & ARNAUDOV (2017) for The high epidemiological significance of ticks the regions of Saedinenie, Stamboliiski, Sadovo from the Ixodidae family determines the number and the village of Gradina and Parvomay Town of existing studies on their spread, species and ARNAUDOV (2005) for the villages of Izbegli composition, seasonal dynamics and and Parvenets. epidemiological features in different geographic As a result of these studies, the following 11 regions – DANTAS-TORRES et al. (2011), tick species were found: Rhipicephalus bursa DUMITRACHE et al. (2012), ESTRADA-PENA & (Canestrini et Fanzago, 1877), Rhipicephalus SANTOS-SILVA (2005), ESTRADA-PENA & sanguineus (Latreille, 1806), Rhipicephalus VENZAL (2007), GILLOT (1985), HOOGSTRAAL turanicus (Pomerancev, 1940), Ixodes ricinus & VALDEZ (1980), JONGEJAN & UILENBERG (Linneaus, 1758), Dermacentor marginatus 38 Atanas Arnaudov, Dimo Arnaudov (Sulzer, 1776) Hyalomma plumbeum (Panzer, density of invasion is the highest (ARNAUDOV & 1795), Hyalomma scupense (Schulze, 1918), ARNAUDOV, 2017). Boophilus calcaratus (Birula, 1895), Rh. bursa has been established throughout the Haemophysalis sulcata (Canestrini & Fanzago, whole period during which the animals are on the 1878), Haemophysalis punctata (Canestrini & pasture, with the maximum of infestation being in Fanzago,1878) and Haemophysalis intermis June (ARNAUDOV & ARNAUDOV, 2017). Because (Birula, 1895). it is a thermophilic tick species, a connection can be found between the wide spread of this species and the climate conditions in the region of Distribution and biological characteristics of Plovdiv - wet and hot (HOOGSTRAAL & VALDES, ticks found in the Plovdiv Region 1980). For this reason it is also widespread in the Mediterranean region (PAPADOPULUS et al., 1996; The Genus Rhipicephalus ESTRADA-PENA & SANTOS-SILVA, 2005). In the region of Plovdiv City three species Rh. turanicus is also commonly found in the from this genus were identified - Rh. bursa, Rh. region of Plovdiv. It is usually observed together turanicus and Rh. sanguineus. with Rh. bursa, but it can be found earlier – in Rh. bursa (Fig. 1) is the most widespread March, and the majority of he infestation is in species in the area. On the territory of Plovdiv May (MINCHEVA et al., 1965). A typical species Region it was discovered in the village of Iskra by for dry subtropical areas (VASILEV & SARBOVA (1956) and by PAVLOV et al., (1962); in VISHNYAKOV, 1977), it prefers flat terrains and the municipalities of Parvomai, Saedinenie, pastures located not more than 500 m above sea Stamboliyski and Sadovo by ARNAUDOV et al. level. It is a three-host tick where the larvae and (2014), ARNAUDOV & ARNAUDOV (2017) and in pupae parasitise mainly on domestic and wild the villages of Izbegli and Parvenets by rodents and insectivores,