• 한국동물위생학회지
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.75-80
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• 2016

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging disease characterized by fever and thrombocytopenia. Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks comprise the major population of ticks in the environment and have been considered as the main vector for SFTS virus (SFTSV). Here we investigated the distribution of ticks carrying SFTSV collected from the environment using the dragging or sweeping methods during April~October 2015 in Jeollanam-do, Korea. Sampling was taken from Songjeong, Omi, Bangkwang, Sandong areas in Jiri walking trails. Among the total 3,869 ticks collected, 3,823 ticks (98.8%) were H. longicornis, 41 (1.1%) were Amblyomma testudinarium, and 5 (0.1%) were Ixodes nipponensis. Classification results by regional groups of H. longicornis indicated that 1,613 ticks were collected in Sandong, 1,190 ticks in Omi, 603 ticks in Bangkwang, and 417 ticks in Songjeong. In monthly distributional studies of H. longicornis based on the developmental stages, nymph (325 ticks) was collected from May to October, 94% of larvae from April to June, and 94% of adult from June to August. These results showed the different dominant stage of ticks according to seasons. However, no SFTSV-specific gene was detected in 3,823 ticks of H. longicornis, 41 of A. testudinarium and 5 of I. nipponensis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제56권6호
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• pp.589-596
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• 2018

Ticks are the vectors of various pathogens, threatening human health and animal production across the globe. Here, for the first time we detected Ricketssia spp., Borrelia spp. and protozoan in ticks from Poyang Lake region in Jiangxi Province of eastern China. In 3 habitat categories and on 12 host species, 311 ticks from 11 species were collected. Haemaphysalis longicornis was the predominant species, accounting for 55.63%, followed by Rhipicephalus microplus, Haemaphysalis flava and Ixodes granulatus. Of the collected ticks, 7.07% were positive for tick-borne pathogens, and H. longicornis and H. flava were found to be co-infected with Ricketssia spp. and protozoan. H. flava was the most detected positive for tick-borne pathogens, whereas H. longicornis had the lowest infection rate, and the difference in infection rates between tick species was significant (${\chi}^2=61.24$, P<0.001). Furthermore, adult ticks demonstrated remarkably greater infection rate than immature ticks (${\chi}^2=10.12$, P=0.018), meanwhile ticks on Erinaceidae showed significantly higher positivity than ticks collected on other host species (${\chi}^2=108.44$, P<0.001). Genetic fragment sequencing and analyses showed at least 4 pathogen species presence in ticks, namely Borrelia yangtzensis, Rickettsia slovaca or Rickettsia raoultii related genospecies, Babesia vogeli and Hepatozoon canis or Hepatozoon felis related genospecies. The finding indicates that the abundant ticks can carry diverse pathogens in Poyang Lake region, and pathogen infection is highly related to species, vertebrate hosts and life stages of ticks.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제57권6호
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• pp.691-698
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• 2019

The seasonal abundance of hard ticks that transmit severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus was monitored with a collection trap method every April to November during 2015-2018 and with a flagging method every July and August during 2015-2018 in Ganghwa-do (island) of Incheon Metropolitan City, Republic of Korea. This monitoring was performed in a copse, a short grass field, coniferous forest and broad-leaved forest. A total of 17,457 ticks (8,277 larvae, 4,137 nymphs, 3,389 females, and 1,654 males) of the ixodid ticks comprising 3 species (Haemaphysalis longicornis, H. flava, and Ixodes nipponensis) were collected with collection traps. Of the identified ticks, H. longicornis was the most frequently collected ticks (except larval ticks) (94.26%, 8,653/9,180 ticks (nymphs and adults)), followed by H. flava (5.71%, 524/9,180) and Ix. nipponensis (less than 0.04%, 3/9,180). The ticks collected with collecting traps were pooled and assayed for the presence of SFTS virus with negative results. In addition, for monitoring the prevalence of hard ticks, a total of 7,461 ticks (5,529 larvae, 1,272 nymphs, 469 females, and 191 males) of the ixodid ticks comprising 3 species (H. longicornis, H. flava, and Ix. nipponensis) were collected with flagging method. H. longicornis was the highest collected ticks (except larval ticks) (99.53%, 1,908/1,917 ticks (nymphs and adults)), followed by H. flava (1.15%, 22/1,917).

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제52권4호
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• pp.356-363
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• 2020

제주지역의 4개 환경(초지, 잡목림, 산길, 무덤)에서 2018년 3월부터 11월까지 진드기 채집을 통하여 진드기의 분포 특성 및 SFTSV 병원체 보균 여부를 조사하였다. Tick trap을 이용해 채집된 3,095마리와 flagging을 이용하여 채집된 1,569마리를 채집하였다. 총 4,664마리의 채집된 진드기 중에서 Haemaphysalis longicornis가 4,440마리(95.2%)로 대부분을 차지하였고, H. flava는 224마리(4.8%)가 채집되었다. 환경적으로는 Tick trap은 초지(953마리), 잡목림(883마리), 산길(847마리), 무덤(411마리)가 채집되었고, flagging은 잡목림(704마리), 산길(472마리), 무덤(197마리), 초지(196마리)가 채집되었다. 발육단계별로는 유충은 5월부터 채집되어 10월에 140마리, 11월에 280마리가 채집되었다. 약충은 4월부터 8월에 집중적으로 채집(2,978마리)되었고, 5월과 6월에 가장 많이 채집되었다. 성충은 6월부터 8월까지 전체 성충 중 94%가 채집되었다. 채집된 H. longicornis 4,440마리와 H. flava 224마리에서 SFTSV는 확인되지 않았다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제56권3호
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• pp.305-308
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• 2018

This study was aimed to disclose the prevalence rate of tick-borne pathogens from ticks collected from cattle and wild animals in Tanzania in 2012. Ticks were collected from slaughtered cattle and dead wild animals from November 5 to December 23, 2012 and identified. PCR for detecting Anaplasmataceae, Piroplamidae, Rickettsiaceae, Borrelia spp., and Coxiella spp. were done. Among those tested, Rickettsiaceae, Piroplasmidae, and Anaplasmataceae, were detected in ticks from the 2 regions. Rickettsiaceae represented the major tick-borne pathogens of the 2 regions. Ticks from animals in Maswa were associated with a higher pathogen detection rate compared to that in ticks from Iringa. In addition, a higher pathogen detection rate was observed in ticks infesting cattle than in ticks infesting wild animals. All examined ticks of the genus Amblyomma were infected with diverse pathogens. Ticks of the genera Rhipicephalus and Hyalomma were infected with 1 or 2 pathogens. Collectively, this study provides important information regarding differences in pathogen status among various regions, hosts, and tick species in Tanzania. Results in this study will affect the programs to prevent tick-borne diseases (TBD) of humans and livestock in Tanzania.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.101-109
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• 1993

This study was attempted to develop a rearing method of the tick(Haemaphysalis longicornis) at the laboratory in winter. The rearing conditions for ticks in winter were summarized as follows; Even in the winter, under controlled Incubator on 25~3$0^{\circ}C$ and 90~95%, temperature and humidity, respectively, it is possible to rear the ticks normally as on summer. in the usual laboratory room temperature and humidity, 20~$25^{\circ}C$ and 51 ~77%. In the ticks collected in summer, the life span of the ticks, from hatching to death, was 91～129(112.8$\pm$15.2) days in the lagoratory, and the number of the oviposited eggs from a tick were about 1,680~2,460 and the hatching rate of the oviposited eggs was about 95(92~98)%. The life span of the ticks which were reared in the laboratory in winter was 89-138(112.2$\pm$21.1) days, and the number of the oviposited eggs from the tick were about 1,382~2,674 and the hatching rate of them was about 89.5(87~92)%. In the rearing of the tick at the laboratory, the dogs, rabbits and mice were able to use the hosts for the tick. The proper temperature to feed the ticks on the cattle in the cold season was obtained by $Hokalong^{\circledR}$ which were attached on the out side of sac which covered bovine ear where attached ticks.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제60권1호
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• pp.57-63
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• 2022

When free-ranging birds are accidentally killed or die, there may be greater potential for their associated ticks to detach, seek alternate hosts, and become established. We examined 711 carcasses of 95 avian species for ticks at a stopover island of migratory birds in the Republic of Korea where only Ixodes nipponensis and I. persulcatus were previously reported from local mammals and vegetation. A total of 16 ticks, I. turdus and Haemaphysalis flava, were collected from 8 fresh carcasses belonging to 5 avian species. Despite their known abundance on migratory birds and mainland Korea, these species had not colonized the isolated insular ecosystem possibly due to the low abundance and diversity of local hosts. The results imply that increasing human impact, such as the anthropogenic mortality of migratory birds and the introduction of non-native mammalian hosts, will increase the potential invasion and colonization risk of ticks. This finding also suggests that tick surveillance consisting of fresh carcasses of dead migratory birds may provide additional information, often ignored in surveillance of ticks on live birds, for the potential introduction of non-native ticks and associated pathogens affecting animal and human health.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제58권3호
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• pp.327-331
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• 2020

Toxoplasma gondii are intracellular protozoa that can cause neurological disease or death in fetuses and even in immunocompromised human adults. Ticks are recognized as vectors of many microorganisms including viruses, bacteria, and protozoa. Recent studies detected T. gondii in various tick species in many countries. In this study, we performed PCR detection of the T. gondii B1 gene from Haemaphysalis ticks collected from vegetation in 4 localities, Wonju, Gunsan, Miryang, and Yangsan, in Korea. We analyzed DNA from 314 ticks (268 Haemaphysalis longicornis and 46 Haemaphysalis flava) and the B1 gene of T. gondii was detected in 13 of these. The detection of T. gondii in ticks differed significantly by region (P=0.021). T. gondii was detected in the following percentages of collected ticks: 3.7% (7 of 189) in Gunsan, 10% (5 of 50) in Wonju, 16.7% (1 of 6) in Yangsan, and 0% (0 of 69) in Miryang. The detection of T. gondii in ticks was not associated with tick species or development stage. This is the first report of T. gondii detection in ticks in Korea. Our results provide important information necessary to understand toxoplasmosis transmission.

• 대한위생학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한위생학회 2004년도 심포지움
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• pp.8-27
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• 2004

본 연구에서는 가정의 여러 유해 환경 중에서도 세균과 바이러스 그리고 집먼지진드기를 효과적으로 제거할 수 있는 방법으로서 오존과 자외선이 그 대안이 될 수 있음을 실험을 통해 검증하고 있다. 실험을 통해 다음과 같은 사실이 확인되었다. 첫째, 가정과 유사한 실험 공간에서 오존과 자외선을 이용한 멸균 실험을 통해 실제 가정의 유해 세균이 수 십분 이내에 $99.0\%$ 제거되는 조건을 확인하였다. 둘째, 오존과 자외선을 이용하여 바이러스가 거되는 조건을 확인하였다. 셋째, 집먼지진드기가 제거되는 조건을 확인하였다 오존만을 적용한 조건과 오존과 자외선을 동시에 적용한 조건으로 나누어 실험한 결과를 통해 집먼지진드기는 오존과 자외선의 동시 노출 조건에서 사멸 율이 더 높게 나타났으며, 오존만을 이용한 조건만으로 집먼지진드기가 제거됨을 확인할 수 있었다.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.37.1-37.14
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• 2021

Background: Ticks are one of the most common external parasites in dogs, and are associated with the transmission of a number of major zoonoses, which result in serious harm to human health and even death. Also, the increasing number of pet dogs and pet owners in China has caused concern regarding human tick-borne illnesses. Accordingly, studies are needed to gain a complete understanding of the bacterial composition and diversity of the ticks that parasitize dogs. Objectives: To date, there have been relatively few reports on the analysis of the bacterial community structure and diversity in ticks that parasitize dogs. The objective of this study was to investigate the microbial composition and diversity of parasitic ticks of dogs, and assessed the effect of tick sex and geographical region on the bacterial composition in two tick genera collected from dogs in China. Methods: A total of 178 whole ticks were subjected to a 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) next generation sequencing analysis. The Illumina MiSeq platform targeting the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was used to characterize the bacterial communities of the collected ticks. Sequence analysis and taxonomic assignment were performed using QIIME 2 and the GreenGene database, respectively. After clustering the sequences into taxonomic units, the sequences were quality-filtered and rarefied. Results: After pooling 24 tick samples, we identified a total of 2,081 operational taxonomic units, which were assigned to 23 phyla and 328 genera, revealing a diverse bacterial community profile. The high, moderate and low prevalent taxa include 46, 101, and 182 genera, respectively. Among them, dominant taxa include environmental bacterial genera, such as Psychrobacter and Burkholderia. Additionally, some known tick-associated endosymbionts were also detected, including Coxiella, Rickettsia, and Ricketssiella. Also, the potentially pathogenic genera Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas were detected in the tick pools. Moreover, our preliminary study found that the differences in microbial communities are more dependent on the sampling location than tick sex in the tick specimens collected from dogs. Conclusions: The findings of this study support the need for future research on the microbial population present in ticks collected from dogs in China.