First evidence of established populations of the taiga tick Ixodes persulcatus (Acari: Ixodidae) in Sweden.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The tick species Ixodes ricinus and I. persulcatus are of exceptional medical importance in the western and eastern parts, respectively, of the Palaearctic region. In Russia and Finland the range of I. persulcatus has recently increased. In Finland the first records of I. persulcatus are from 2004. The apparent expansion of its range in Finland prompted us to investigate if I. persulcatus also occurs in Sweden.

Methods

Dog owners and hunters in the coastal areas of northern Sweden provided information about localities where ticks could be present. In May-August 2015 we used the cloth-dragging method in 36 localities potentially harbouring ticks in the Bothnian Bay area, province Norrbotten (NB) of northern Sweden. Further to the south in the provinces Västerbotten

SUBMITTER: Jaenson TG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5116163 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature