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Bat-associated soft tick Carios vespertilionis in Belarus
Aleksandra I Larchanka1, Maria V Orlova2
1Scientific and Practical Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus for Bioresources, 27 Akademicheskaya Str., Minsk 220072, Belarus.
Veterinary Parasitology, Regional Studies and Reports
|August 10, 2026
Summary
The soft tick Carios vespertilionis, a bat ectoparasite, is now documented across five regions of Belarus. This study details its prevalence and host associations, expanding knowledge of this parasite in Eastern Europe.
Area of Science:
- Zoology
- Parasitology
- Ecology
Background:
- The soft tick Carios vespertilionis is an ectoparasite of bats with a broad Old World distribution.
- Its presence and ecological impact in Belarus were previously under-documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide the first detailed account of Carios vespertilionis distribution in Belarus.
- To identify host species and quantify infestation parameters for C. vespertilionis in Belarus.
Main Methods:
- Field surveys conducted from 2020 to 2023 across Belarus.
- Examination of 1111 bats from 15 species for C. vespertilionis larvae.
- Recording of tick presence, host species, and infestation intensity.
Main Results:
- Carios vespertilionis was recorded at 23 localities in five Belarusian regions (Brest, Gomel, Grodno, Minsk, Mogilev).
- 297 larval specimens were collected from 68 bats of seven species, primarily Pipistrellus pygmaeus and Pipistrellus nathusii.
- Overall prevalence was 5.9%, with a mean intensity of 4.4 larvae per host; highest loads were on P. nathusii and P. pygmaeus.
Conclusions:
- This study significantly expands the known geographic range of Carios vespertilionis within Belarus.
- New data on host specificity and infestation levels provide crucial insights into the parasite-host dynamics in the region.