Comparison of the body mass of Dermacentor reticulatus ticks from two ecologically varied habitats located in a close vicinity.

Abstract

Dermacentor reticulatus as hematophagous arthropod has a great veterinary and epidemiological significance in Europe as a vector and reservoir of numerous pathogens including bacteria, rickettsia, viruses and protozoa. Because of biological and ecological traits, i.e. ability to survive prolonged periods of starvation, ecological plasticity, adaptability and resistance to fluctuating and adverse environmental conditions D. reticulatus ticks are an important parts of enzootic cycles, thus have been studied intensively since last years. Genetic studies of ticks collected in Poland suggest existence of the overlapping zone between two European populations of this species. The aim of this study was to compare the body mass (as reduced body mass) of D. reticulatus females and males collected in two plots, representing different ecological characteristics, located in close vicinity, placed in Lublin province (eastern Poland). The results indicate that the reduced body mass values of D. reticulatus adults collected in diverse microhabitats did significantly vary. The cause of this phenomenon is ambiguous, so it need to be elucidated in further studies.