A systematic study of the Australian species of the genus Ixodes (Acarina: Ixodidae)

Abstract

A systematic study has been made of the species of Ixodes (Ixodidae) occurring in Australia. Nineteen species were recognized in the material available for examination, namely I. uriae, I. kohlsi, I. eudyptidis, I. pterodromae, I. simplex simplex, I. vespertilionis, I. ornithorhynchi, I. tasmani, I. hydromyidis, I. australiensis, I. victoriensis, I. fecialis, I. antechini, I. vestitus, I. holocyclus, I. confusus, I. cornuatus, I. hirsti, and I. trichosuri. Four of these, I. antechini, I. cornuatus, I, confusus, and I. trichosuri, are regarded as new species and I. simplex simplex and I. pterodromae are recorded from Australia for the first time. I. rothschildi recorded by Arthur (1953) from Western Australia was not encountered. A detailed description with appropriate figures is given for each species, including all known stages in the life cycle, together with data on host range and geographical distribution. Keys are supplied for the known males, females, nymphs, and larvae and a classified host list has been compiled.

Tick-Borne Rickettsioses around the World: Emerging Diseases Challenging Old Concepts

“…This tick also feeds on a broad range of vertebrate hosts. It is distributed primarily in coastal regions but is also prevalent in the rain forests of Queensland (287). R. australis has also been isolated from Ixodes tasmani, a species that exists along the coast as well as in the interior regions of south and western Australia (287).…”

“…It is distributed primarily in coastal regions but is also prevalent in the rain forests of Queensland (287). R. australis has also been isolated from Ixodes tasmani, a species that exists along the coast as well as in the interior regions of south and western Australia (287). This tick rarely bites humans but may play a role in the enzootic maintenance of R. australis in small animals (60,127).…”

Comments on controversial tick (Acari: Ixodida) species names and species described or resurrected from 2003 to 2008

“…Camicas, Hervy, Adam and Morel, 1998 is listed as a nomen novum in Camicas et al (1998) but is ignored in Horak et al (2002) and in Barker and Murrell (2004). Camicas et al (1998) applied this name to I. cornuatus Roberts, 1960, which they considered preoccupied by I. cornuatus Olenev (1941). However, J. E. Keirans (personal communication to I. G. Horak) considers I. cornuatus Olenev a nomen nudum, thus validating the species described by Roberts (1960).…”

“…Camicas et al (1998) applied this name to I. cornuatus Roberts, 1960, which they considered preoccupied by I. cornuatus Olenev (1941). However, J. E. Keirans (personal communication to I. G. Horak) considers I. cornuatus Olenev a nomen nudum, thus validating the species described by Roberts (1960). Olenev (1941) provided no formal description of I. cornuatus (which he proposed as a new variety of I. persulcatus), and we therefore concur that there is no argument for the validity of I. robertsi.…”

Tick paralysis in Australia caused byIxodes holocyclusNeumann

“…A tick's saliva contains a plethora of biologically active molecules that modulate the host's immune response to tick infestation, facilitating the formation of a feeding pool in the host's tissue (Ribeiro, 1995;TABLE 3. The many native hosts of Ixodes holocyclus in Australia (Roberts, 1960;Domrow and Derrick, 1965;Marks and Cribb, 1966;Doube, 1975;Jackson et al, 2000;Campbell et al, 2003) Wikel, 1996Wikel, , 1999Schoeler and Wikel, 2001). To allow successful feeding over several days, ticks need to overcome the host's haemostatic, inflammatory and immune mechanisms (Ribeiro and Francischetti, 2003), and they produce many compounds, including anticoagulants (such as gelatinases), fibrinolytic enzymes and anti-platelet and vasodilator substances (Kemp et al, 1983), to achieve this goal.…”