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Distribution and seasonal activity of tick species on cattle in the West Aegean region of Turkey

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the identity, seasonal activity and distribution of tick species of cattle in the West Aegean region of Turkey between June 2006 and May 2008. Nine villages within three provinces, viz. Manisa, Izmir and Aydin, were included in the study and a total of 75 animal barns were visited monthly for a period of 24 months and 443 cattle were examined for the presence of ticks. It was determined that 23% of cattle were infested with ticks. A total of 19,679 adult ticks were collected. The most abundant tick species was Hyalomma marginatum (33.5%) and H. excavatum (16.9%) in the study area. Seasonal appearance of the adult ticks varied among species. Adult ticks of the Hyalomma genus were present throughout the year, although in smaller numbers during the winter. Species of Rhipicephalus were detected in all seasons except autumn. Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus was identified in July and August, Haemaphysalis parva was detected during the autumn. Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor marginatus were identified during spring, autumn and winter. The study demonstrated the presence of I. ricinus, D. marginatus, Hyalomma rufipes and Hae. parva for the first time in the West Aegean region of Turkey.

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Acknowlegments

Financial support for this study was provided by a grant from the Wellcome Trust (Ref 075820/A/04/Z) and funds from the University of Adnan Menderes, Scientific Research Projects (Project No VFT-06002). The authors thank Dr. M. Nurullah Orman for his support on statistical analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, Işıklı Mevki, 09016, Aydın, Turkey

    Serkan Bakirci, Hakan Sarali, Hasan Eren & Tulin Karagenc

  2. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Uludağ University, Gorukle, 16059, Bursa, Turkey

    Levent Aydin

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  1. Serkan Bakirci
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  2. Hakan Sarali
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  3. Levent Aydin
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  4. Hasan Eren
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  5. Tulin Karagenc
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Correspondence to Tulin Karagenc.

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Bakirci, S., Sarali, H., Aydin, L. et al. Distribution and seasonal activity of tick species on cattle in the West Aegean region of Turkey. Exp Appl Acarol 56, 165–178 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-011-9502-0

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