Tick infestation (Ixodes) on feral mink (Neovison vison) in central Germany

Authors

  • Axel Christian Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz

Keywords:

ticks, ectoparasites, Ixodes hexagonus, Ixodes ricinus

Abstract

Four species of ticks (I. hexagonus, I. rugicollis, I. canisuga, I. ricinus) were found to infest feral American mink (Neovison vison) in central Germany. About 45 % of all investigated mink were infested. The most common tick species on mink was I. hexagonus. The prevalence = infestation extensity (proportion of infested animals) with I. hexagonus was 43.8 %, which is approximately in accordance with the infestation extensity in England and Wales (40 %). The average infestation intensity (number of ticks per infested animal) is 11.0 ticks per infested mink. Two species of ticks were found on 10.9 % of the infested minks. The highest infestation intensity of I. hexagonus found on one mink was 43 larvae plus 7 nymphs. The average infestation intensity of the stages of I. hexagonus was 4.42 females, 5.91 nymphs and 8.26 larvae per mink. In the investigation areas in central Germany the mink is proved to be a frequent host for I. hexagonus. The frequent common wood tick I. ricinus parasitised only rarely on mink.

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Published

2010-08-01

How to Cite

Christian, A. (2010). Tick infestation (Ixodes) on feral mink (Neovison vison) in central Germany. SOIL ORGANISMS, 82(2), 209. Retrieved from https://soil-organisms.org/index.php/SO/article/view/228

Issue

Vol. 82 No. 2 (2010)

Section

ARTICLES

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