[Dermacentor ticks in France and Germany. Molecular biological differences in species, ecology and epidemiological...

Dermacentor reticulatus and D. marginatus, two ixodid tick species occurring in France and Germany, exhibit morphologically overlapping phenotypes. The results of sequence analyses of the hypervariable rDNA gene region ITS 2 do not support conspecifidity. As in France, D. reticulatus has to be characterized as an epidemiologically effective vector of Babesia canis in Germany as well, with the endemic area being located at Kehl/Offenburg/Lahr/Emmendingen/Freiburg in Breisgau. Ecological investigations indicate that a spreading of D. reticulatus and, as a possible consequence, that of B. canis in Germany has to be expected.