1Infectious Disease Control Department, Institute of Public Health, Tirana., Albania;
2National Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Food Safety ond Veterinary, Tirana, Albania;
3Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture University, Tirana, Albania;
*Corresponding author e-mail: pkadriaj@yahoo.com
Abstract:
During 2010-2013, ticks from hosted animals, have been collected from 9 districts in Albania. Here we present the composition of tick species and the prevalence of their distribution. Dragging, collection from the host used for tick collection. Cows, sheep, goat and dogs are examined for the presence of ticks. Collected ticks were transported alive in the laboratory were subsequently identification at species level has been carried out based on identification keys and taxonomic characters as described by Estrada-Pena. Eleven ticks species have been identified during this study. Boophilus annulatus (34%) was the predominant collected species, followed by Hyalomma marginatum (23%) Rhipicephalus bursa (18%), Rhipicephalus turanicus (14%) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (7%), Ixodes ricinus (1%). Dermacentor marginatum, Hyalomma detritium detritium, Hyalomma detritium scupense, and Hemaphysalis sulcata were found with very low prevalence. Cows were the main host for Hyalomma marginatum. All Rhipicephalus sanguineus were collected on dogs. Hyalomma marginatum were the prevalent species in CCHF endemic areas in Kukes prefecture. Hyalomma marginatum and Rhipicephalus bursa are predominant in CCHF endemic areas in Albania. While other species are distributed all over the districts. Identification of geographical distribution of ticks allows evaluating the risks and promptly implementing control measures for tick borne diseases.
Keywords: Tick, Hyalomma marginatum, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic, Fever virus.
