Hard Ticks Parasitizing European Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus citellus (L.,1766) (Rodentia: Sciuridae) in Serbia

Abstract

Specimens of the endangered species Spermophilus citellus (European ground squirrel) from populations inhabiting 12 localities in Vojvodina (Serbia) were inspected for the presence of attached hard ticks. A total of 1009 ticks were found on 151 infested animals. With respect to the level of infestation, over 60% of the squirrels were found with five or less ticks attached, while the distribution of the number of animals with a higher level of infestation tended to follow the 80/20 rule. A notably higher level of infestation was detected in males as compared to females. Nymphs were the predominant developmental stage of ticks parasitizing the inspected European ground squirrel specimens. The majority of removed ticks belonged to the nidicolous species Ixodes laguri (79%), while the remaining ticks were identified as Haemaphysalis concinna. In seeking molecular confirmation of morphological identification of Ixodes specimens, COI gene sequences of I. laguri were obtained and deposited in GenBank.