Francisella tularensis from ixodid ticks in Czechoslovakia
Hubálek, Z.; Juricová, Z.; Halouzka, J.
Folia Parasitologica 37(3): 255-260
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0015-5683 PMID: 2227710 Document Number: 364232
A total of 26 478 ixodid ticks (935 pools) were examined during 1976-88 by intracerebral inoculation of suckling mice. Six species of ticks were tested: Ixodes ricinus (23 470 individuals), I. trianguliceps (12), Haemaphysalis punctata (831), H. concinna (39), Dermacentor reticulatus (69) and D. marginatus (2057). The ticks were collected largely by flagging vegetation, although a substantial minority (4%) were taken off animals. Three strains of F. tularensis were isolated, one each from I. ricinus (males, Breclav district, southern Moravia), D. reticulatus (males, Breclav district) and D. marginatus (engorged females collected from sheep in Roznava district, eastern Slovakia). D. marginatus and D. reticulatus represent new vectors of F. tularensis for Czechoslovakia.