Seasonal abundance and activity of the hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) in North China

Abstract

Seasonal abundance and activity of all the three post-embryogenic stages of Haemaphysalis longicornis, both feeding and free-living phases, were evaluated over a period of 2 years, from February 2008 to January 2010, in North China. Feeding ticks were removed weekly from head and ears of domestic sheep and the attachment sites of this tick were assessed co-instantaneously; free-living ticks were collected weekly in four habitat types by flag-dragging. The results suggested that H. longicornis mainly resides in shrubs and completes one generation per year with population attrition between stages. Infestation of nymphs was detected from March to September with highest peak between late April and early May; adults were detected from April to September with highest peak between late June and July, and an overwintering male population was found during late September to March; infestation of larvae was observed from June to October and peaked between middle August and early September. Most of this tick (91%) attached to head and ears of hosts. Additionally, we captured rodents from April to September 2008, but only a negligible number of nymphs were detected. This result suggested that rodents are not the principal hosts for this tick in the study area.

Evaluation of immune protection induced by DNA vaccines from Haemaphysalis longicornis paramyosin in rabbits

“…Haemaphysalis longicornis is an obligate hematophagous ectoparasite widely distributed in China, New Zealand, Korea, Japan and Australia [1]. Evidence showed that H. longicornis could transmit pathogenic microorganisms, such as Babesia gibsoni , Theileria spp.…”

Screening and Molecular Cloning of a Protective Antigen from the Midgut of Haemaphysalis longicornis

“…Haemaphysalis longicornis is widely distributed in China, New Zealand, Korea, Japan, and Australia [9], and is a vector of zoonotic pathogens, including Theileria sergenti , Babesia ovata , and Rickettsia japonica [10,11], that impact negatively on human and animal health. More recently in 2009, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) was reported in Hubei and Henan provinces of China.…”

Seasonal dynamics of the tick Haemaphysalis tibetensis in the Tibetan Plateau, China

“…It is recognized that the eggs and larvae are vulnerable to low temperature (Randolph & Storey, ; Sutherst & Bourne, ; Yoder et al ., ), so the seasonal dynamics of H. tibetensis ensure that the development of eggs and larvae occurs in relatively warm and wet months. This pattern of seasonal occurrence was also observed in Haemaphysalis longicornis (Zheng et al ., ) and Haemaphysalis concinna (Meng et al ., ).…”