THE INFECTION DEGREE OF IXODID TICKS OF THE SPECIES DERMACENTOR PICTUS WITH BABESIA

Abstract

Ixod mites are carriers of many infectious and invasive diseases. Vector-borne tick-borne dis-Ixod mites are carriers of many infectious and invasive diseases. Vector-borne tick-borne diseases include borreliosis, viral encephalitis, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis, which can be dangerous for both humans and animals. Babesiosis, caused by the blood parasite Babesia canis, is one of the most common protozoal diseases in dogs, causing significant economic and moral damage to service dog breeding and private owners. Carriers of Babesia canis are mainly imagos of ixod mites (family Ixodidae) of the genera Dermacentor and Rhipicephalus. Every year the habitat of ticks increases, and therefore the incidence of animals’ babesiosis increases. Invasive ixodid ticks play a major role in the transmission of this disease. The aim of the work was to study the infestation of ticks by babesia found on the territory of the Belgorod region in 2018-2019. The presence of babesia was determined by smears microscopy made from salivary glands, females’ eggs and a ticks suspension. The streptococci, enterobacteria, clostridia, borrelia and other microorganisms also were found in smears from salivary glands and from female ticks eggs. It was established that in the Belgorod district, the most common species are ticks of the species Dermacentor pictus. In spring, the degree of tick infected by babesia was higher than in autumn.