Ixodid ticks in the megapolis of Kyiv, Ukraine

Authors: ROGOVSKYY, ARTEM - Texas A&M University; NEBOGATKIN, IGOR - National Academy Of Sciences Of Ukraine; Scoles, Glen

Submitted to: Ticks and Tick Borne Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/9/2016
Publication Date: 10/14/2016
Citation: Rogovskyy, A.S., Nebogatkin, I.V., Scoles, G.A. 2016. Ixodid ticks in the megapolis of Kyiv, Ukraine. Ticks and Tick Borne Diseases. 8(1):99-102.

Interpretive Summary: The aim of the current work was to investigate the distribution of Ixodid ticks in Kyiv, the largest and most densely populated city in Ukraine. Ticks in the family Ixodidae include most common tick species encountered in Europe and they transmit a variety of bacterial and protozoan agents of medical and veterinary significance. Ticks were collected during May, the month that had showed the highest abundance of ticks in the past, at various recreational areas where people are most likely to encounter them. Three different species of ticks were collected, two species, Dermacentor reticulatus and Ixodes ricinus, were very common and abundant, but a third, Rhipicephalus sanguineus was represented by only a single specimen. In addition to these new collections this paper presents for comparison data from 1985-2013, which were originally published in Russian or Ukrainian and therefore prior to summery here here have not been readily available to English-speaking scientific community. The collection of a single specimen of R. sanguineus, the brown dog tick, in Kyiv represents a new geographic record and may be incidental.

Technical Abstract: The Ixodidae include the most common tick species encountered in Europe. The ticks transmit a variety of bacterial and protozoan agents of medical and veterinary significance. The aim of the current work was to investigate distribution of Ixodidae ticks in Kyiv, the largest and most densely populated megapolis of Ukraine. Ticks were collected at various recreational areas by flagging during May, the month that showed the highest tick abundance in the past. Ixodidae fauna was represented by only Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus. Sex distribution among I. ricinus ticks was relatively equal, whereas females were significantly more abundant for D. reticulatus. As opposed to western and central Europe where immature ticks are more abundant, the immature:adult ratio for I. ricinus was reversed. Also, this report is the first to document detection of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.) in Kyiv region. A male R. sanguineus s.l., whose habitat has historically been thought to be restricted to the southern Ukraine, was collected just outside the cit limits. Data on tick diversity over the past 30 years, however, indicates that this finding may only be incidental.