Impact of abiotic factors, habitat type and urban wildlife on the ecology of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in urban and p
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arasites & Vectors Open Access
RESEARCH
Impact of abiotic factors, habitat type and urban wildlife on the ecology of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in urban and peri‑urban habitats Silvia‑Diana Borşan1*, Andra Toma‑Naic1, Áron Péter1, Attila D. Sándor1,2, Cosmin Peștean3 and Andrei‑Daniel Mihalca1
Abstract Background: Ticks are increasingly acknowledged as significant vectors for a wide array of pathogens in urban environments with reports of abundant tick populations in recreational areas. The study aims to contribute to a better knowledge of the abiotic and biotic factors which impact the ecology of hard ticks in urban and peri-urban habitats in Romania. Methods: Questing ticks were collected by flagging in seven recreational locations, from four types of habitats in Cluj-Napoca, Romania: parks; gardens; a cemetery; and peri-urban forests. Hedgehogs, birds and micromammals were also sampled and searched for ticks, using standard methods (i.e. torch-based searches, ornithological mist nets, snaptraps, etc.), while vegetation was evaluated on surveyed areas. Data on questing ticks were converted to abundance indices. Moodʼs median tests were used to assess the relationship between the abiotic and biotic factors and the abundance of questing ticks. Results: Two species of questing ticks were found: Ixodes ricinus (96.8%) and Haemaphysalis punctata (3.2%). Ixodes ricinus was also the predominant engorged tick collected from urban wildlife. For I. ricinus the highest mean total abundance index/location (total no. of ticks/100 m2) was recorded in the urban gardens (3.79, 95% CI: ± 1.59) and parks (2.68, 95% CI: ± 0.75), whereas the lowest mean total abundance index was noted in the peri-urban forests (0.06, 95% CI: ± 0.03) and the urban cemetery (0.04, 95% CI: ± 0.02). The adults and nymphs of I. ricinus displayed a bimodal activity pattern, while the larvae showed a unimodal questing behaviour with an autumnal peak. Positive correlations were found between the mean total abundance index and the rise in the daily mean temperature and relative humid‑ ity, and between the global abundance of questing ticks and the presence of hedgehogs in the respective locations (P 41 cm height, measured using a ruler) was measured for each 100 m 2 area where flagging was performed. Any bare area (pavement and gravel-covered walkways) were excluded. In addition we estimated the area of shrub layer (considered only where no grass was present below shrubs), while any area covered by closed canopy trees was assigned into arboreal cover in each plot. We computed a composite index (determined by log-transforming the % cover of the three major habitat types) for each surveyed area. Sward height (although measured) was discarded as regular grass management kept grass height below 20 cm in most areas, while grassy patches were scarce inside forests. In forests, major forest type was assigned into dominant if dominant tree species covered > 45%.
46°45′39.7″N, 23°34′14.9″E
USAMV Campus
Mănăștur Cemetery
Iuliu Hațieganu Park
Alexandr
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