Ticks (Ixodoidea) of domestic animals in Cyprus

Abstract

AbstractA total of 15 835 ticks was identified, mainly from sheep and goats, in a livestock survey in Cyprus in 1970–72. Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum Koch, H. a. excavatum Koch, H. marginatum marginatum Koch, H. m. turanicum Pom., H. m. rufipes Koch, Haemaphysalis sulcata C. & F., Ixodes crenulatus Koch and Rhipicephalus turanicus Pom. & Matikashvili are recorded for the first time in Cyprus. H. sulcata was found in all parts of the island; Hyalomma spp. and Rhipicephalus spp. were mostly seen in the low drier areas, and Ixodes gibbosus Nutt. in the wetter areas; Boophilus annulatus (Say) was confined to one small area. Ticks were most common in autumn and early winter. Haemaphysalis sulcata and I. gibbosus were only found in the winter months, whereas Hyalomma spp. were found all the year round but especially in the warmer months. The Hyalomma subspecies showed some differences in seasonal distribution. Immature Rhipicephalus ticks were found in the colder months whereas the adults were seen mainly in the spring and early summer. Immature Haemaphysalis sulcata and Hyalomma spp. were extremely rare on ruminants. Only adults of I. gibbosus were seen in the first year of the survey, whereas only immatures, mainly larvae, were seen in the second year. The period of attachment of R. bursa C. & F. adults was shorter than that of R. turanicus and corresponded closely to the incidence of babesiosis in sheep and goats. The predilection sites of ticks for cattle, sheep and goats are given.