Ticks, Their Parasites, and Reptiles

A forthcoming article in the journal Veterinary Parasitology reports on invasive species of ticks (Acari: Ixodida) have been imported into Poland. The article was published first on-line on January 20, 2010 and the full reference is given below. Between 2003 and 2007 Magdalena Nowak of Pedagogical University of Cracow examined 382 specimens of reptiles imported into Poland from Ghana. Nowak found more than 2100 specimens of ticks in the genera Amblyomma and Hyalomma, and they represented 8 species of Amblyomma and one species of Hyalomma. Extracts of 345 ticks were examined for the presence of DNA from Anaplasma phagocytophilum (causes human granulocytic anaplasmosis) and Rickettsia spp. (causes spotted fever group or human rickettsiosis). The author confirmed the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in two ticks of Amblyomma flavomaculatum (constituting 0.6% of all the ticks investigated) that had fed on the Savanna Monitor Lizard (Varanus exanthematicus). None of the tick specimens, however, contained Rickettsia spp. DNA. The import of exotic reptiles in Poland and Central Europe is important for parasitological and epidemiological reasons and Nowak suggests that it requires monitoring to prevent the spread of exotic parasites. Of course, its not just Poland that has this problem. Any country importing wild caught reptiles risks importing ticks and their parasites. The large, wild caught pythons and boas frequently harbor ticks and are therefore associated with this problem.

Nowak, M. 2010. The international trade in reptiles (Reptilia)—The cause of the transfer of exotic ticks (Acari: Ixodida) to Poland. Veterinary Parasitology. doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.01.006 |