TOMSK, Jul 27 – RIA Tomsk. Biologists of Tomsk State University (TSU), as part of an international team of scientists, have
found seven new species of ticks in bats living in Belarus; the
scientists are especially concerned about the tick Carios
vespertilionis, which attacks humans and is the agent of many dangerous
diseases, the university's press service said on Tuesday.
"The
Russian-American research team has published an article on the results
of a study of cheiropterous animals in Belarus. In their work, the
biologists describe seven species of ticks that were first found on bats
in that country. Scientists are concerned that among the identified
parasites there are species that transmit infections dangerous to
humans," says the report.
© пресс-служба ТГУ
It is specified that Spinturnix
plecotina – a specific parasite of Plecotus (a fairly rare group of bat
species), Macronyssus corethroproctus – specific parasite of Myotis
dasycneme (a species that is rare in Europe and listed in the Red Books
of different countries), Macronyssus kolenatii – parasite specific to
different species of Pipistrellus - were found and described among new
to Belarus species of ticks.
"In the article, biologists
especially focus on the discovery of the Argasidae Carios
vespertilionis. This finding is of concern to scientists because many
dangerous pathogens - such as Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, Borrelia – have
been associated with it; in addition, it attacks humans," adds the
report.
The bats were caught in Dragichin, Dzerzhinsk,
Cherven, Nesvizh and other areas. After removal of ticks, the
researchers released the chiroptera.
The research team
included employees of TSU, Scientific and Practical Center of the
National Academy of Sciences of Belarus on Bioresources, University of
Michigan, Tyumen State Medical University and Tyumen State University.
The study resulted in the article "A survey of bat ectoparasitic mites
of Belarus" published in the highly rated International Journal of
Acarology.
© Александр Жигалин, предоставлено пресс-службой ТГУ
Myotis dasycneme
© Предоставлено пресс-службой ТГУ
Argasidae Carios vespertilionis