[Wild ungulates as a food source for ixodid ticks in Belorussia]

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Entomology
• Wildlife Ecology
• Parasitology

Context:

• Rising populations of wild ungulates, including elk, roe deer, and wild boar, have been observed.
• These species serve as hosts for various tick species, influencing disease transmission dynamics.

Purpose:

• To investigate the role of increased elk, roe, and boar populations as hosts for imaginal developmental stages of Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor pictus ticks.
• To quantify the host-parasite interactions between these ungulates and tick species.

Summary:

• Elk, roe deer, and wild boar populations have increased significantly, enhancing their role as hosts for adult Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor pictus ticks.
• Elk are identified as a primary host for Ixodes ricinus, exhibiting high indices of tick abundance (7.31) and saturation (176.9).
• While Ixodes ricinus also saturates roe deer (96.5) and wild boar (73.1), Dermacentor pictus primarily parasitizes wild boar (abundance 3.06, saturation 81.7). Ruminants play a minor role for Ixodes ricinus larvae and nymphs, and are not hosts for Dermacentor pictus larvae and nymphs.

Impact:

• Understanding these host-tick dynamics is crucial for predicting and managing tick-borne diseases in wildlife and potentially in livestock and humans.
• Highlights the ecological significance of specific wild ungulate populations in supporting tick life cycles.
• Informs wildlife management strategies aimed at controlling tick populations and associated pathogens.