Ornithodoros sawaii (Acari: Ixodida: Argasidae) collected from nest soil/litter of Synthliboramphus antiquus, Synthliboramphus wumizusume, and nest soil/litter and nestlings of Hydrobates monorhis on Gugul and Sogugul Islands, Jeollanam Province, Republic of Korea 

Abstract

The 65 th Medical Brigade and Medical Department Activity-Korea, in collaboration with the Migratory Birds Research Center, National Park Research Institute, conducted a migratory bird tick-borne disease surveillance program on Gugul and Sogugul Islands, two small, remote, uninhabited islands in southwestern Jeollanam Province, Republic of Korea (ROK) from 2015-2016. Ticks were collected from nest soil/litter of the Ancient Murrelet, Synthliboramphus antiquus, Japanese Murrelet, Synthliboramphus wumizusume, and Swinhoe's Storm Petrel, Hydrobates monorhis, using Tullgren funnels. A total of 100 Ornithodoros sawaii (25 females, 56 males, 17 nymphs, and 2 larvae) were collected from 2/33 (6.1%) Ancient Murrelet, 3/11 (27.3%) Japanese Murrelet, and 23/94 (24.5%) Swinhoe's Storm Petrel nest sites. In addition, 3 larvae were collected from Swinhoe's Storm Petrel nestlings. Ticks were identified morphologically and species determination was confirmed using polymerase chain reaction techniques. This is the first record of O. sawaii collected from nest soil/litter of the Japanese Murrelet during this bird's nesting season in the ROK.

Identification of Tick Species Collected from Wild Boars and Habitats of Wild Boars and Domestic Pigs in the Republic of Korea

“…A total of 2 females, 4 males, and 6 nymphs of Ornithodoros spp. were collected [19]. However, there was no report that O. sawaii was infected by ASFV [20], and it is essential to investigate ASFV in vector ticks and hosts in near areas because it can be transmitted through ticks attached on host animals.…”

<i>Ornithodoros sawaii</i> (Ixodida: Argasidae) Larvae Collected from <i>Hydrobates monorhis</i> on Sogugul and Gaerin Islands, Jeollanam-do (Province), Republic of Korea

“…3). Ornithodoros larvae collected from H. monorhis from Gaerin (KOR-G0908-100) Island most closely aligned with O. sawaii with 0-1 base differences and 99.8-100% identity compared to female, male, and nymph stages of O. sawaii collected from Chilbal Island [26], and other collection sites of Japan (Miyazaki, Shimane, Maizuru, Kyoto, and Ishikawa).…”

“…PCR was performed using mt-rrs primer sets based on the mitochondrial 16S rDNA gene (mt-rrs) fragment previously described by Black and Piesman [24], Ushijima et al [25], and Kim et al [26]. The resulting product consisted of 475 base pairs, including the primer sets.…”

“…Nesting sites (e.g., Sogugul and Gaerin Islands) are remote small rocky volcanic outcroppings that are difficult to access and are therefore infrequently surveyed. Nesting soil and litter of the ancient murrelet, Synthliboramphus antiquus (Gmelin) and H. monorhis were collected at Chilbal Island, a small remote uninhabited island of south-western Jeollanam-do Province, ROK, and ticks were collected from the nest soil and litter using the Tullgren funnel [26]. A total of 12 H. sawaii (2 females, 4 males, and 6 nymphs) were collected from 3/36 nest soil and litter samples obtained on 1 May and 30-31 May 2014 during the nesting season of S. antiquusi and from 6/20 soil and litter samples collected on 14-15 September 2014 during the nesting season of H. monorhis [26].…”

“…Nesting soil and litter of the ancient murrelet, Synthliboramphus antiquus (Gmelin) and H. monorhis were collected at Chilbal Island, a small remote uninhabited island of south-western Jeollanam-do Province, ROK, and ticks were collected from the nest soil and litter using the Tullgren funnel [26]. A total of 12 H. sawaii (2 females, 4 males, and 6 nymphs) were collected from 3/36 nest soil and litter samples obtained on 1 May and 30-31 May 2014 during the nesting season of S. antiquusi and from 6/20 soil and litter samples collected on 14-15 September 2014 during the nesting season of H. monorhis [26]. While H. monorhis occupies the same nesting sites as S. antiquusi , the breeding seasons of these 2 species do not overlap, and resident Ornithodoros larvae feed on young and adult birds of both species during their breeding season.…”