CASE REPORT
A seven-legged tick – anomalous Ixodes ricinus female (Acari: Ixodidae) from Poland
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1
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Poland
2
Laboratory of Electron and Confocal Microscopy, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Poland
Corresponding author
Julia Koczwarska
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2024;31(2):294-297
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ABSTRACT
Morphological anomalies are considered a rare phenomenon among natural tick populations. New cases of abnormalities in ticks are being described, such as body assymetries, nanism, gynandromorphism and limb malformations. The tick removed from a cat was morphologically identified to species and developmental stage. The time of feeding on the host was determined. The specimen was tested using PCR and Real-Time PCR methods for the presence of the common tick-borne pathogens: Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp, Borrelia spp., Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Rickettsia spp. For visualisation of the anomalous structures, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed. The tick was identified as a slightly engorged adult female of I. ricinus exhibiting ectromely of leg I on the left side of the idiosoma. The specimen was tested positive for two medically important pathogens: A. phagocytophilum and N. mikurensis. The case report describes a rare case of a morphological anomaly in an I. ricinus tick from Poland.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The study received a grant (Grant No. OPUS 2020/37/B/
NZ6/01587) from the National Science Centre (NCN),
Kraków, Poland
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