Distribution of hard tick species in Ankara, Turkey

Authors : Olcay HEKİMOĞLU, Ayşe Nurdan ÖZER, Ayşe Nurdan ÖZER

Pages : 256-262

Doi:10.3906/zoo-1311-38

View : 16 | Download : 8

Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :A systematic study has been carried out on hard ticks from Ankara Province, Turkey. Between April 2010 and July 2012, 1800 tick specimens belonging to 9 species were identified at 31 locations in 9 districts. Tick species are listed as follows: Rhipicephalus sanguineus group insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(43.44%);, Rhipicephalus bursa insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(36.67%);, Hyalomma marginatum insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(8.83%);, Haemaphysalis parva insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(6%);, Hyalomma aegyptium insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2.39%);, Hyalomma excavatum insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1.33%);, Dermacentor marginatus insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1.06%);, Haemaphysalis punctata insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(0.22%);, and Hyalomma detritum insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(0.06%);. Ticks were collected from host animals and from vegetation via the flagging method. The species of the genus Rhipicephalus were present in most of the study areas, the most common being the Rhipicephalus sanguineus group insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(20/31);. Hyalomma species were mostly collected from host animals, with Hyalomma marginatum being the most common species in this genus insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(8.83%);. We also observed seasonal variations in abundance, with the highest number in May. The district with the most abundant ticks was determined to be Kızılcahamam, which had the highest tick abundance rate of 28.6%.
Keywords : Ankara, tick, flagging, Rhipicephalus, Hyalomma