ENTOMOLOGICAL STUDY OF TICKS IN ALBANIA DURING 2014

In Albania the first cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever was identified in 1986, and cases occur almost every year. The primary tick vectors belong to the Hyalomma genus. Hyalomma tick infest a wide spectrum of different wildlife species. During 2014 ticks from hosted animals, have been collected from 6 districts in Albania. Dragging collection from the host and the environment are the methods used for tick collection. Cows, sheep, goat and dogs are examined using gloves for the presence of ticks in ears, thighs, perineal region etc.Collected ticks were transported alive in the laboratory were subsequently identification at species level has been carried out based on identification keys and taxonomic characters as described by Estrada-Pena (ICTTD-2004). Seven ticks species have been identified during this study.Hyalomma marginatum (49%) was the predominant collected species, Rhipicephalus bursa (40%), Rhipicephalus turanicus (6%), Ixodes ricinus (2%), Boophilus annulatus (2%), and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (1%). Meanwhile Hyalomma detritium detritium,Hyalomma detritium scupense and Dermacentor marginatum were found with very low prevalence. Cows were the main host for Hyalomma marginatum and Rhipicephalus bursa on the other hand.Hy.marginatum were the prevalent species in CCHF endemic areas in Kukes prefecture, while Rhp. bursa was prevalent in Kolonje district where CCHF cases have been recently indetified.Hyalomma marginatum and Rhipicephalus bursa are predominant in CCHF endemic areas in Albania. While other species are distributed all over the districts. Identification of geographical distribution of ticks allows evaluating the risks and promptly implementing control measures for tick borne diseases accordingly.