Abstract
Some parasitoids of the genus Ixodiphagus (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea: Encyrtidae) are well-known natural enemies of ticks. In this study, we investigate the occurrence of parasitoid wasps in adult hard ticks from Western Africa (Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal) and Far Eastern Europe (Russia) using molecular methods. The morphological identification allowed the classification of 785 collected specimens of six species of ticks: Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (41%), Ixodes persulcatus (33%), Dermacentor silvarum (11%), Haemaphysalis concinna (7%), Amblyomma variegatum (5%), and Haemaphysalis japonica (3%). The newly developed MALDI-TOF MS protocol identified tick species in spite of their different storage (dried or in 70% ethanol) conditions for a long period. Molecular screening of ticks by a new standard PCR system developed in this study revealed the presence of parasitoid wasp DNA in 3% (28/785) of analyzed ticks. Ixodiphagus hookeri was detected in 86% (24/28) of infested ticks, including 13 I. persulcatus, 9 R (B) microplus, and one H. concinna and D. silvarum. While an unidentified parasitoid wasp species from the subfamily Aphidiinae and Braconidae family was detected in the remaining 14% (4/28) infested ticks. These infested ticks were identified as I. persulcatus. Our findings highlight the need for further studies to clarify the species diversity of parasitoid infesting ticks by combining molecular and morphological features. The novel molecular and MALDI-TOF MS protocols could be effective tools for the surveillance and characterization of these potential bio-control agents of ticks.
Highlights
Ticks (Ixodida) are obligate blood-sucking ectoparasites of terrestrial vertebrates almost all over the world [1]
Ticks involved in the spread of human pathogens often feed on small mammals and birds during their immature stages, while adult ticks tend to feed on bigger herbivores and carnivores [3]
We report for the first time the presence of I. hookeri in ticks from Western Africa (Côte d’Ivoire) in R. (B.) microplus) and in Russian Far East
Summary
Ticks (Ixodida) are obligate blood-sucking ectoparasites of terrestrial vertebrates almost all over the world [1]. Because of the pathogens they transmit and the enormous economic losses they cause, the epidemiological importance of ticks is increasing dramatically worldwide [4]. The recognized number of human diseases caused by microorganisms transmitted by ticks has increased [5,6]. Three families of ticks are known: Argasidae (soft ticks), Nuttalliellidae, and Ixodidae (hard ticks) [7,8]. This stresses the need to develop targeted methods and diversify management programs for the control of these harmful vectors
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