RODENTS AS A PERSISTENT SOURCE OF TICK-BORNE DISEASES

Abstract

Diseases transmitted by ticks usually have a very complex environment and their prevalence, frequency, seasonality and long-term dynamics are influenced by various factors. The aim of our study was to study the role of rodents in the life cycle of I. ricinus. The research was conducted in the forests of Khmelnytsky, Chernivtsi and Vinnytsia regions. In the forests of the three regions, nine plots measuring 100×100 m were selected. Traps were set for catching rodents in each plot. Caught rodents were examined for the presence of all stages of ticks. It was found that european mouse (Sylvaemus sylvaticus), yellow-breasted mouse (Sylvimus flavicollis) and field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) were found in all three regions. A total of 159 rodents were caught in the experiment. Of these, 34 european mice, 49 yellow-breasted mice, 76 field mice, all were examined for ticks. The most affected was the european mouse, which lives not only in forests, but also in parks and gardens, floodplains and gardens. Ticks larvae were detected in 88.2% of individuals. The average number of larvae detected in the european mouse was 16, which was significantly higher than the average number of larvae in the yellow-breasted mouse, which was 8. The yellow-breasted mouse was also infested with larvae in 73.5%. The field mouse was the least affected, at 61.8%, and the average number of larvae per individual was 4. Larvae and nymphs were mainly attached to the rodent's head, also to the body, and much less to the limbs. In populations of all rodents, a slight lesion predominated in most individuals. A maximum of 29 ticks were found in the european mouse, 18 in the yellow-breasted mouse, and 6 in the field mouse. It was found in the age dynamics that all young rodents were less infested than the older ones. It was also found that the intensity of males is 1.5 times higher than females for all species of rodents. The intensity of the invasion is highest in the summer months (July-August) and decreased slightly in autumn. Studies conducted in three areas allow us to characterize the role of three species of rodents as feeders of the preimaginal stages of development of Ixodid ticks and to note some features of the disease of each species

Keywords

• ixodid ticks
• ixodes ricinus
• rodents
• tick-borne diseases