The impact of intensity of invasion of <em>Ixodes ricinus</em> and <em>Dermacentor reticulatus</em> on the course of the parasitic phase
Journal Title: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine - Year 2012, Vol 19, Issue 4
Abstract
Investigations into the effect of the intensity of invasion on tick-questing behaviour were conducted on 3 groups of rabbits: 1) 10 females and 5 males, 2) 20 females and 10 males, 3) 40 females and 20 males in the case of [i]I. ricinus[/i], whereas in the case of[i] D. reticulatus[/i], another three groups were used: 1) 10 females and 15 males, 2) 20 females and 15 males, 3) 40 females and 15 males. Given the different invasion intensities, no significant difference was found in the time of attachment to the host (p=0.3773) or in the feeding period (p=0.1051) for [i]Ixodes ricinus[/i] females. In turn, body weight of engorged females exhibited highly significant differences (p=0.0021) between the groups, particularly in the least (0.3551±0.0739 mg) (p=0.0027) and most numerous groups (0.2752±0.0964 g) (p=0.0017). In the case of [i]D. reticulatus[/i], the length of the skin attachment period did not show statistically significant differences (p=0.4036) between the groups consisting of different numbers of ticks. However, invasion intensity had a statistically significant effect of the length of the feeding period (p=0.0037). In the least numerous female group, the length of the feeding period was significantly lower than in the groups composed of 20 (p=0.0091) and 40 (p=0.0042) specimens. No significant differences in the length of the feeding period (p=1.0000) were found between the most numerous groups of 20 and 40 females. The body weight in engorged females of this species exhibited highly significant differences (p=0.0006) in the most numerous group (0.2511±0.1135), and in the other groups (0.3559±0.0654 and 0.3554±0.0380 mg, respectively, in the invasion of 20 and 10 females). Both the investigated species showed highly significant differences in the attachment period in the groups with 20 (p=0.0017) and 40 (p&amp;lt;0.0001) females, and in the feeding period in all the experimental groups: (p=0.0001), (p&amp;lt;0.0001) and (p=0.0088), respectively. Furthermore, decreased feeding success and 12.5% female death were reported from the most numerous group of [i]I. ricinus [/i]females. The differences between the feeding course in [i]I. ricinus[/i] and [i]D. reticulatus[/i] may be explained by the presence of various interactions in the parasite-host system at the different intensities of invasion by the 2 tick species.
Authors and Affiliations
Katarzyna Bartosik, Alicja Buczek
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP80527
- DOI -
- Views 123
- Downloads 0
Managing water safety in healthcare. Part 1 – Strategies and approaches for waterborne pathogen control
Summaries in 2 parts are presented from a conference held in London at the Royal Society for Public Health on 16-17 May 2012, on the latest developments in dealing with waterborne hospital-acquired infections (nosocomial...
Validation of direct plating of a stool sample as a method for [i]Listeria monocytogenes[/i] detection
The aim of current studies was to validate the direct plating of a stool sample for [i]Listeria monocytogenes[/i] detection, using selective medium Palcam agar with Palcam selective supplement. Validation was performed u...
Swine confinement buildings: effects of airborne particles and settled dust on airway smooth muscles.
Swine confinement workers are exposed to various contaminants. These agents can cause airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction. This study was undertaken to evaluate if the bronchoconstrictive effects of swine barn ai...
Investigations on ecological effects of heavy metal pollution in Hungary by moss-dwelling water bears (Tardigrada), as bioindicators.
The authors demonstrate a possible relationship between the concentrations of metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, V, Zn) measured in mosses and the composition of Tardigrade species detected in the same samples. Cushions of...
Occurrence of microscopic fungi and mycotoxins in conserved high moisture corn from Slovakia.
Contamination by microscopic fungi and mycotoxins in high moisture corn (HMC) silages conserved by chemical additives was investigated. The samples were examined for the concentration and identification of microscopic fu...