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A unique phenomenon of oral-anal contact between ticks observed in two tick species Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus
 
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1
Chair and Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University, Lublin, Poland
 
2
Department of Basic Nursing and Medical Teaching, Medical University, Lublin, Poland
 
3
Chair and Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University, Lublin, Poland
 
 
Corresponding author
Alicja Buczek   

Medical University, Chair and Department of Biology and Parasitology, Radziwiłłowska 11 St., 20-080 Lublin, ul. Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, Poland
 
 
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2018;25(4):686-689
 
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ABSTRACT
For the first time in the world literature, the presented study describes oral-anal contact between two sympatric Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus ticks, which are the vectors of many pathogens in Europe. Among the specimens collected in nature, an I. ricinus male was found with the hypostome and chelicerae inserted in the anal aperture of a D. reticulatus female. Given the biological and physiological traits of both species and microorganisms colonising these arthropods, it seems that the interspecific oral-anal contacts between ticks may be an unknown alternative route of transmission of pathogenic and symbiotic microorganisms present in ticks’ alimentary tract, faeces, body surface, and in the haemolymph and organs, taking place when the male’s mouthparts are inserted into the female’s body. The authors suggest that interspecific contacts between ticks in natural conditions can contribute to the spread of some icroorganisms among different tick species and their hosts..
 
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eISSN:1898-2263
ISSN:1232-1966
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