Видовой состав клещей надсемейства Ixodoidea в Узбекистане

Abstract

Continuous monitoring of the abundance and species composition of ixodid ticks (Acarina, Ixodidae), which are hosts and vectors of many pathogens causing dangerous diseases in humans and animals, is a prerequisite for the forecasting and prevention of vector-borne infections. In 2023–2026, ticks of the families Argasidae and Ixodidae were collected in the Kashkadarya, Navoi, Samarkand and Syrdarya regions of the Republic of Uzbekistan using standard methods: flagging and collection of ticks from domestic and wild animals; the premises where the animals were kept were also examined. All collected ticks were identified to species level under an MBS-9 stereomicroscope using the identification keys of N.A. Filippova. The family Argasidae was represented by a single species, Argas persicus (Oken, 1818), which usually inhabits poultry houses. Ixodid ticks of the family Ixodidae were collected mainly from domestic animals: 843 adults and 15 nymphs of 12 species from 3 genera. Fourteen tick species from 6 genera and 2 families were collected on animals and in the wild in the surveyed regions of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The largest numbers of ticks were collected in the Samarkand and Syrdarya regions. The results indicate a considerable diversity of ixodid ticks in the surveyed regions of the Republic of Uzbekistan and justify expanding the monitoring area for these blood-sucking parasites and conducting molecular genetic studies to determine their infection with various pathogens.