Distribution characteristics of ixodid ticks of the genus Hyalomma Koch, 1844 (Acari, Ixodidae) in the south of Kazakhstan

Abstract

Ticks of the genus Hyalomma are widespread in the arid territories of Western and Central Asia and are known as one of the main vectors of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever pathogen. Several species of this genus live in the south of Kazakhstan and their number and distribution are heterogeneous. 100,539 specimen ticks of the genus Hyalomma collected from the soil surface, vegetation, rodent burrows, premises for keeping livestock, wild and domestic animals in settlements and their environs in Kyzylorda, Turkestan and Zhambyl regions were identified by morphological characteristics. There were studied 17841 specimens of ticks from the collection fund of the Republican State Enterprise "Institute of Zoology" of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republican State Enterprise "National Research Center for Especially Dangerous Infections named after M. Aikimbaev "MH RK. From the collected and studied ticks, 5 species were identified – Hyalomma asiaticum (36811 specimens), H. scupense (40204 specimens), H. anatolicum (22245 specimens), H. turanicum (1278 specimens), H. rufipes (1 specimens). In the south of Kazakhstan, 5 species of ticks of the genus Hyalomma were found. Certain biotopic confinement is noted in some species. The most numerous and widespread species H. asiaticum is found everywhere in the sandy deserts of the south of Kazakhstan,but is not found in the foothill and mountainous regions. H. scupense and H. anatolicum have adapted to living in settlements and their surroundings, located along the floodplains of large rivers and their tributaries. The distribution of H. turanicum in the south of Kazakhstan is limited within the foothills of
Nat. Volatiles & Essent. Oils, 2021; 8(5 ):11069-11079
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the Western Tien Shan. H. rufipesis not typical for the fauna of Kazakhstan and is most likely introduced into the territory with migratory animals.