CASE REPORT
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
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
 
REFERENCES (45)
1.
Neumann L. Anomalie d’ixodide’s. Arch Parasitol. 1899;2:463–465. French.
 
2.
Taank V, Lattanzio FA, Sultana H, et al. Double anus in an Ixodes scapularis nymph, a medically important tick vector. Parasit Vectors. 2021;14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071....
 
3.
Flávia Gomes Azzi C, Junior Lima Aprígio C, Vidal de Souza R, et al. Morphological abnormality in larvae of Amblyomma oblongoguttatum (Acari: Ixodidae). Vet Not. 2019;25(1):1–10. http://doi.org/10.14393/VTN-v2....
 
4.
Dominguez L, Perez E, Bermudez Castillero S. First report of abnormal morphology in the tick Dermacentor dissimilis (Acari: Ixodidae) and evidence of molt nymph-adult on hosts from Nicaragua. Acarol Stud. 2020;2(1):46–50.
 
5.
Keskin A. New Teratological Tick Specimens (Acari: Ixodidae) From Turkey. KSÜ Doga Bilimleri Dergisi. 2018;21(1):88–90. https://doi.org/10.18016/ksudo....
 
6.
Soghigian J, Ridge GE, Stafford KC 3rd, et al. The first evidence of nanism in Ixodes (Ixodes) scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae), found parasitizing a human host. J Med Entomol. 2017;54(5):1224–1228. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tj....
 
7.
Chitimia-Dobler L, Pfeffer M. Gynandromorphism and local morpho -logical abnormalities in Dermacentor reticulatus (Acari: Ixodidae). Syst Appl Acarol. 2017;22(4):449. https://doi.org/10.11158/saa.2....
 
8.
Ren Q, Chen Z, Luo J, et al. Abnormal Development of Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis (Acari: Ixodidae). J Insect Sci. 2016;16(1):66. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa....
 
9.
Robinson GG. Cases of abnormal development in the argasid tick, Ornithodorus moubata. Parasitology. 1943;35(1–2):23–26. https://doi.org/10.1017/s00311....
 
10.
Domínguez L, Bermúdez, S. Firsts records of abnormalities and gynandromorphism in hard ticks (Ixodida: Ixodidae) from Panama. Syst Appl Acarol. 2020;25(7):1199–1208. https://doi.org/10.11158/saa.2....
 
11.
Balinandi S, Mugisha L, Bbira J, et al. General and Local Morphological Anomalies in Amblyomma lepidum (Acari: Ixodidae) and Rhipicephalus decoloratus Infesting Cattle in Uganda. J Med Entomol. 2019;56(3):873–877. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tj....
 
12.
Buczek A, Bartosik K, Buczek S, et al. Anomalies in Hyalomma marginatum larvae (Acari: Ixodidae) in relation to taxonomic studies. Syst Appl Acarol. 2017;22(3):423–430. https://doi.org/10.11158/saa.2....
 
13.
Belozerov VN, Van Niekerk DJ, Butler HJB. Population structure of Argas arboreus (Acari: Argasidae) ticks associated with seasonally abandoned argasmixed heronries, dominated by cattle egrets (Bubulcusibis), in South Africa. Onderstepoort J Vet Res. 2003;70(4). https://doi.org/10.4102/ojvr.v....
 
14.
Chitimia-Dobler L, Bestehorn M, Bröker M, et al. Morphological anomalies in Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes inopinatus collected from tick-borne encephalitis natural foci in Central Europe. Exp Appl Acarol. 2017;72(4):379–397. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493....
 
15.
Diyes CP, Rajakaruna RS. Teratological anomalies of an adult Asiatic blue tick, Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae). Syst Appl Acarol. 2021;26(1):320–324. https://doi.org/10.11158/saa.2....
 
16.
Kar S, Akyildiz G, Yilmazer N, et al. External morphological anomalies in ixodid ticks from Thrace, Turkey. Exp Appl Acarol. 2015;67(3):457–466. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493....
 
17.
Shuaib YA, Isaa MH, Ezz-Eldin MIE, et al. Morphological abnormalities in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) collected from domestic animal species in Sudan. Exp Appl Acarol. 2020;82(1):161–169. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493....
 
18.
Keskin A, Simsek E, Bursali A, et al. Morphological abnormalities in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) feeding on humans in Central Black Sea region, Turkey. Zoomorphology. 2016;135(2):167–172. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435....
 
19.
Zharkov SD, Dubinina HV, Alekseev AN, et al. Antropogenic pressure and changes in Ixodes tick populations in the Baltic region of Russia and Denmark. Acarina 2000;8(2):137–141.
 
20.
Campana-Rouget Y.[Teratology of ticks]. Ann Parasitol Hum Comp. 1959a;34(1–2):209–260. French. https://doi.org/10.1051/parasi....
 
21.
Buczek A. Experimental Teratogeny in the Tick Hyalomma marginatum marginatum (Acari: Ixodida: Ixodidae): Effect of High Humidity on Embryonic Development. J Med Entomol. 2000;37(6):807–814. https://doi.org/10.1603/0022-2....
 
22.
Nowak-Chmura M. Teratological changes in tick morphology in ticks feeding on exotic reptiles. J Nat Hist. 2012;46(15–16):911–921. https://doi.org/10.1080/002229....
 
23.
Hillyard PD. Ticks of North-west Europe. Shrewsbury: Field studies council; 1996.
 
24.
Gray J, Stanek G, Kundi M, et al. Dimensions of engorging Ixodes ricinus as a measure of feeding duration.Int J Med Microbiol. 2005;295(8):567–572. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmm....
 
25.
Oloś G, Nowakowska J, Rojewska S, et al. New findings of Setaria tundra and Setaria cervi in the red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Poland. Parasitology. 2019;146(10):1333–1337. https://doi.org/10.1017/s00311....
 
26.
Chitimia L, Lin R-Q, Cosoroaba I, et al. Genetic characterization of ticks from southwestern Romania by sequences of mitochondrial cox1 and nad5 genes. Exp Appl Acarol. 2010;52(3):305–311. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493....
 
27.
Mangold AJ, Bargues MD, Mas-Coma S. 18S rRNA gene sequences and phylogenetic relationships of European hard-tick species (Acari: Ixodidae). Parasitol Res. 1997;84:31–37.
 
28.
Massung RF, Slater K, Owens JH, et al. Nested PCR assay for detection of granulocytic ehrlichiae. J Clin Microbiol. 1998;36(4):1090–1095. https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.36....
 
29.
Bonnet S, Jouglin M, L’Hostis M, et al. Babesia sp. EU1 from Roe Deer and Transmission within Ixodes ricinus. Emerg Infect Dis. 2007;13(8):1208–1210. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid130....
 
30.
Ondruš J, Balážová A, Baláž V, et al. Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis is widespread in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks in the Czech Republic. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2020;11(3):101371. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbd....
 
31.
Roux V, Rydkina E, Eremeeva M, et al. Citrate synthase gene comparison, a new tool for phylogenetic analysis, and its application for the rickettsiae. Int J Syst Bacteriol. 1997;47(2):252–261. https://doi.org/10.1099/002077....
 
32.
Welc-Falęciak R, Kowalec M, Karbowiak G, et al. Rickettsiaceae and Anaplasmataceae infections in Ixodes ricinus ticks from urban and natural forested areas of Poland. Parasites Vectors. 2014;7(1):1–13. https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3....
 
33.
Bednarska M, Bajer A, Drozdowska A, et al. Vertical transmission of Babesia microti in BALB/c mice: preliminary report. PLoS One. 2015;10(9). https://doi.org/10.1371/journa....
 
34.
Kumar S, Stecher G, Tamura K. MEGA7: molecular evolutionary genetics analysis version 7.0 for bigger datasets. Mol Biol Evol. 2016;33(7):1870–1874. https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev....
 
35.
Campana-Rouget Y. [Teratology of ticks]. Ann Parasitol Hum Comp. 1959b;34(3):354–431. French. https://doi.org/10.1051/parasi....
 
36.
Buczek A, Bartosik K, Buczek W, et al. The effect of sublethal concentrations of deltamethrin and alphacypermethrin on the fecundity and development of Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) eggs and larvae. Exp Appl Acarol. 2019a;78(2):203–221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493....
 
37.
Latif AA, Dhadialla TS, Newson RM. Abnormal Development of Amblyomma variegatum (Acarina: Ixodidae). J Med Entomol. 1988a;25(2):142–143. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmeden....
 
38.
Buczek A, Bartosik K, Buczek AM, et al. Abnormal development of Hyalomma marginatum ticks (acari: Ixodidae) induced by plant cytotoxic substances. Toxins. 2019b;11(8):445. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins....
 
39.
Kamran K, Ali A, Villagra CA, et al. Hyalomma anatolicum resistance against ivermectin and fipronil is associated with indiscriminate use of acaricides in southwestern Balochistan, Pakistan. Parasitol Res. 2021;120(1):15–25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436....
 
40.
Buczek A. [Disturbances in the process of hatching of larvae Argas (A) reflexus (Fabr.) (Acari: Ixodida: Argasidae) exposed to various thermal and humidity conditions]. Wiad Parazytol. 1991;37(1):35–40. Polish.
 
41.
Pawełczyk A, Bednarska M, Hamera A, et al. Long-term study of Borrelia and Babesia prevalence and co-infection in Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor recticulatus ticks removed from humans in Poland, 2016–2019. Parasites Vect. 2021;14(1):1–13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071....
 
42.
Molaei G, Little EAH, Stafford III KC, et al. A seven-legged tick: Report of a morphological anomaly in Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) biting a human host from the Northeastern United States. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2020;11(1):101304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbd....
 
43.
Žygutiene M, Alekseev A, Dubinina H, et al. Evidence for a risk of tick-borne infection in the city parks of Vilnius, Lithuania. Ekologija. 2008;54(1):40–43.
 
44.
Molaei G, Little EA. A case of morphological anomalies in Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) collected from nature. Exp Appl Acarol. 2020;81: 279–285. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493....
 
45.
Alekseev AN, Jensen PM, Dubinina HV, et al. Peculiarities of behaviour of taiga (Ixodes persulcatus) and sheep (Ixodes ricinus) ticks (Acarina: Ixodidae) determined by different methods. Folia Parasitol. 2000;47(2):147–153. https://doi.org/10.14411/fp.20....
 
eISSN:1898-2263
ISSN:1232-1966
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top