Hard ticks are important vectors of dangerous pathogens worldwide. They are vectors of a wide range of protozoal, bacterial, and viral pathogens that are significant to humans and animals. In urban habitats, small and medium-sized mammals, birds, companion animals (cats and dogs), and larger animals (deer, roe deer, and wild boars) play a role in maintaining tick populations and as reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens. The abundance of hard ticks was monitored in Kosice Eastern Slovakia in 4 urban localities: 1, Zberne suroviny, 2, Tahanovce sidlisko, 3, Tahanovce kostol, and 4, Hornbach. Ticks were collected by the flagging method with a white cotton flag (1m2). They were examined using molecular biology methods, reverse line blot hybridization (RLB) for the detection of hosts, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for pathogen detection. A total of 216 ticks were collected. Two species were identified: Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus. From the 216 questing ticks collected during spring 2022, we found 72 males, 68 females and 34 nymphs, 2 larvae of I. ricinus and 11 males and 29 females of D. reticulatus. Altogether, 40 D. reticulatus and 40 I. ricinus ticks were tested for the presence of tick-borne pathogens by PCR. Prevalence of Babesia spp. in D. reticulatus was 7,5%; however, in I. ricinus ticks, no positive sample was detected. Prevalence of Rickettsia spp. was 7,5% in D. reticulatus and 10% in I ricinus. The most represented host in D. reticulatus were birds and I. ricinus parasites in small rodents, artiodactyls (Sus scrofa, Capreolus capreolus), birds (Turdus sp., Parus sp.) and Erinaceus europaeus on which they fed in the previous developmental stages. Hard ticks of the species I. ricinus and D. reticulatus were found in the center of Kosice city. These results indicate a stable tick population in the city. Therefore, birds and small mammals introduce immature ticks into urban areas. In cities, they then complete their developmental cycle to adulthood. This research sends an important public message about the high risk of tick bites and, consequently, of contracting tick-borne diseases.
tick, tick hosts, Slovakia, bloodmeal analysis
Cellengová, Z., Peťko, B., Hajdová, B. (2024): Slovakia’s Urban Tick Ecosystem: Exploring Hosts, Pathogens, and Public Health in Košice (Eastern Slovakia). Scientia Agriculturae Bohemica, 55, 14-21. DOI: 10.7160/sab.2024.550102