First report of the taiga tick Ixodes persulcatus in Norway

Abstract

The distribution range of the taiga tick, Ixodes persulcatus, has increased in the last decade in Northern Europe. We performed samplings at nine locations in Nordland County, east and northeast of Brønnøysund, south of the Arctic Circle in July 2023. Four of 62 ticks collected were identified as I. persulcatus (one female, two males and one nymph), the remaining were identified as Ixodes ricinus (9 females, 2 males and 47 nymphs). This is the first report of I. persulcatus in Norway. Given the importance of I. persulcatus as vector of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and more pathogenic subtypes of the tick-borne encephalitis virus, more research should be done focusing on its distribution, ecology and associated pathogens in Norway.

Keywords

• Ixodes persulcatus
• Ixodes ricinus
• Expansion