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Also known as the Taiga tick

Hosts

Sheep, cattle, horse, dog, human

 

Distribution

Eastern Europe

 

Pathogenesis

Human: Russian Spring-Summer encephalitis and Lyme disease

 

Description

Adult female dorsal features

  • Scapular grooves are present
  • Cornua absent
  • Tarsi I is tapered
  • Punctations are distinct
  • Unfed female can measure between 3.0mm and 3.6mm in length
  • Engorged females can measure up to 11mm in length

Ixodes_persulcatus_f-drarthurcollection-dorsal-3_2x 0 femaledorsal

(Specimen courtesy of the Natural History Museum, London)

Adult female dorsal view. (Click on picture for a close up)

Adult female ventral features

  • Auriculae are distinct
  • Coxae I: long and distinct internal spurs
  • Coxae II-IV: indistinct external spurs
  • Genital aperture positioned between coxae IV
  • Same as Ixodes ricinus except genital opening is straight or wavy

Ixodes_persulcatus_f-drarthurcollection-ventral-3_2x 0 femaleventral 1

Ixodes_persulcatus_f-drarthurcollection-coxa-5_0x 0 femaleventral 2

(Specimen courtesy of the Natural History Museum, London)

Adult female ventral view. (Click on picture for a close up)

Adult male dorsal features

  • Palps are small
  • Tarsi I tapered
  • Punctations are distinct
  • Length of Male can range between 2.4mm-2.8mm

Ixodes_persulcatus_m-drarthurcollection-dorsal-5_0x 0 maledorsal

(Specimen courtesy of the Natural History Museum, London)

Adult male dorsal view. (Click on picture for a close up)

Adult male ventral features

  • Auriculae are distinct
  • Coxae I: long and distinct internal spurs
  • Coxae II-IV: indistinct external spurs
  • Pre-genital plate approx. 2x as long as it is broad
  • Median plate long and narrow

Ixodes_persulcatus_m-drarthurcollection-ventral-5_0x 0 maleventral 1

Ixodes_persulcatus_m-drarthurcollection-coxa-6_6x 0 maleventral 2

(Specimen courtesy of the Natural History Museum, London)

Adult male ventral view. (Click on picture for a close up)

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