Introduction and objective: The study compares the effect of two concentrations (0.1% and 1%) of plant material on repelling two dangerous stored pests – Rhyzopertha dominica F. and Sitophilus granarius L. Both species were treated with the essential oils of Foeniculum vulgare Mill.,...

Introduction and objective: Ticks (Acari:Ixodida) are dangerous ectoparasites and, at the same time, vectors and/or resevoirs of many pathogens, among others Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia microti. These ethiological agents of Lyme borreliosis,...

Kleszcze (Acari: Ixodida) należą do roztoczy, pasożytujących najczęściej na gadach, ptakach i ssakach. Ze względu na znaczenie epidemiologiczne, epizootiologiczne, jak również bezpośrednią szkodliwość wśród ludzi i zwierząt, zaliczają się do jednych z najgroźniejszych pasożytów zewnętrznych. Na całym świecie stwierdzono występowanie około 850 gatunków kleszczy, w Polsce, do tej pory stwierdzono 19 gatunków stale występujących w faunie naszego kraju. Bytują one w różnych siedliskach od terenów nizinnych aż po tereny górskie, zajmując takie miejsca jak: lasy, tereny zieleni, strychy budynków w tym mieszkalnych i gospodarskich, nory, jamy zwierząt, jaskinie. Coraz częstsze występowanie kleszczy w bliskim otoczeniu człowieka i zwierząt przydomowych oraz domowych stwarza idealne warunki do przenoszenia patogenów chorób odkleszczowych. Nie ma wątpliwości, że stale poszukiwane są wszelkie sposoby ochrony osobistej i działania środowiskowe, chroniące przed atakami kleszczy oraz przed konsekwencjami jakie mogą wystąpić po żerowaniu pasożyta. References: Aboelhadid, S.M., Kamel, A.A., Arafa, W.M., Shokier, K.A. (2013). Effect of Allium sativum and Allium cepa oils on different stages of Boophilus annulatus. Parasitology Research, 112(5), 1883–1890. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-013-3344-0 Angelo, I.C., Tunholi-Alves, V.M., Tunholi, V.M., Perinotto, W.M., Gôlo, P.S., Camargo, M.G., Quinelato, S., Pinheiro, J., Bittencourt, V.R. (2015). Physiological changes in Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) experimentally infected with entomopathogenic fungi. Parasitology Research, 114(1), 219–225. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-4181-5 Argas reflexus Fabricius: https://zeckenrollen.de/zecken/zeckenarten-in-deutschland/ Bezuidenhout, J.D., Stutterheim, C.J. (1980). A critical evaluation of the role played by the red-billed oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus in the biological control of ticks. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 47(2), 51–75. Birkett, M.A., Hassanali, A., Hoglund, S., Pettersson, J., Pickett, J.A. (2011). Repellent activity of catmint, Nepeta cataria, and iridoid nepetalactone isomers against Afro-tropical mosquitoes, ixodid ticks and red poultry mites. Phytochemistry, 72(1), 109-14. DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2010.09.016 Castellanos, A.A., Medeiros, M.C., Hamer, G.L., Morrow, M.E., Eubanks, M.D., Teel, P.D., Hamer, S.A., Light, J.E. (2016). Decreased small mammal and on-host tick abundance in association with invasive red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta). Biology Letters, 12(9), 20160463. DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2016.0463 Collatz, J., Selzer, P., Fuhrmann, A., Oehme, R.M., Mackenstedt, U., Kahl, O., Steidle, J.L.M. (2010). A hidden beneficial: biology of the tick-wasp Ixodiphagus hookeri in Germany. Journal of Applied Entomology, 135(5), 351–358. DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0418.2010.01560.x Duffy, D.C., Downer, R., Brinkley, C. (1992). The effectiveness of Helmeted Guineafowl in the control of the deer tick, the vector of Lyme disease. The Wilson Bulletin, 104, 342–345. Ghosh, S., Sharma, A.K., Kumar, S., Tiwari, S.S., Rastogi, S., Srivastava, S., Singh, M., Kumar, R., Paul, S., Ray, D.D., Rawat, A.K. (2011). In vitro and in vivo efficacy of Acorus calamus extract against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Parasitology Research, 108(2), 361–370. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-010-2070-0 Gliniewicz, A., Borecka, A., Przygodzka, M., Mikulak, E. (2019). Susceptibility of Dermacentor reticulatus ticks to repelents containing different active ingrediens. Przegląd epidemiologiczny, 73(1), 117–125. DOI: 10.32394/pe.73.13 Godara, R., Parveen, S., Katoch, R., Yadav, A., Katoch, M., Khajuria, J.K., Kaur, D., Ganai, A., Verma, P.K., Khajuria, V., Singh, N.K. (2015). Acaricidal activity of ethanolic extract of Artemisia absinthium against Hyalomma anatolicum ticks. Experimental and Applied Acarology, 65(1), 141–148. DOI: 10.1007/s10493-014-9843-6 Ixodes ricinus L. female: https://www.gmx.net/magazine/wissen/natur-umwelt/zecken-nutzen-33586218 Ixodiphagus hookeri Howard: http://www.zeckenhilfe.com/en/all-about-ticks/article/what-are-the-natural-enemies-of-ticks-; Ixodiphagus hookeri attacking a fed female tick: https://alchetron.com/Ixodiphagus-hookeri Martinez-Velazquez, M., Rosario-Cruz, R., Castillo-Herrera, G., Flores-Fernandez, J.M., Alvarez, A.H., Lugo-Cervantes, E. (2011). Acaricidal effect of essential oils from Lippia graveolens (Lamiales: Verbenaceae), Rosmarinus officinalis (Lamiales: Lamiaceae), and Allium sativum (Liliales: Liliaceae) against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae). Journal of Medical Entomology, 48(4), 822–827. DOI: 10.1603/me10140 Pålsson, K., Jaenson, T.G., Baeckström, P., Borg-Karlson, A.K. (2008). Tick repellent substances in the essential oil of Tanacetum vulgare. Journal of Medical Entomology, 45(1), 88–93. DOI: 10.1603/0022-2585(2008)45[88:TRSITE]2.0.CO;2 Pirali-Kheirabadi, K., Teixeira da Silva, J.A. (2010). Lavandula angustifolia essential oil as a novel and promising natural candidate for tick (Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus) control. Experimental Parasitology, 126(2), 184–186. DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2010.04.012 Przygodzka, M., Mikulak, E., Chmielewski, T., Gliniewicz, A. (2019). Repellents as a major element in the context of prevention of tick-borne diseases. Przegląd epidemiologiczny, 73(2), 269–280. DOI: 10.32394/pe.73.25 Samish, M., Alekseev, E. (2001). Arthropods as Predators of Ticks (Ixodoidea). Journal of Medical Entomology, 38(1), 1–11. Samish, M., Alekseev, E., Glazer, I. (2000). Biocontrol of ticks by entomopathogenic nematodes. Research update....

W Popradzkim Parku Krajobrazowym występują dogodne siedliska dla Ixodes ricinus L. Łącznie na 13 stanowiskach, zlokalizowanych w obrębie dwóch szlaków edukacyjno-turystycznych i jednej ścieżki turystycznej, znaleziono 213 osobników tego gatunku. W okresie wiosennym jest więcej nimf, a wczesnym latem dorosłych samców i samic. Obecność larw może zależeć od warunków pogodowych, sezonu lub charakterystyki miejsc, w których został przeprowadzony zbiór. Zagadnienia te wymagają jednak dokładniejszych badań. Miejscowa ludność, turyści i strażnicy parków są narażeni na choroby odkleszczowe, które mogą zagrażać ich zdrowiu i życiu.

Throughout Europe, including Poland, Ixodes ricinus ticks are the main vector of numerous pathogenic agents that pose a serious threat to public health. Southern Poland attracts many tourists with its scenic landscapes and abundant recreational opportunities. These areas are ideal habitats for wild fauna, which serve as the main reservoirs and hosts for these pathogens and ticks. The large population and biodiversity of these hosts facilitate the proliferation of ticks. The aim of this study was to determine the potential exposure of humans to ticks and tick-borne pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia spp., along the nature-educational and tourist trails of the Poprad Landscape Park. From 2020 to 2021, ticks were collected using the flagging method on three tourist trails and nature-educational paths within the Poprad Landscape Park. DNA was isolated from 213 I. ricinus ticks using the ammonia method. To detect pathogens in ticks, PCR and nested PCR methods were used. To detect B. burgdorferi s.l. and A. phagocytophilum, two pairs of primers specific to the flaB gene fragment and 16S rRNA gene fragment were used, respectively. For Babesia spp. detection, primers specific to the 18S rRNA gene were used. The amplification products were separated electrophoretically and visualized under ultraviolet light. In total, among the 213 examined ticks, B. burgdorferi s.l. was detected in 31% of the samples. Neither A. phagocytophilum nor Babesia spp. were detected in the studied material. These results indicate a potentially high risk of ticks and tick-borne B. burgdorferi s.l. infections for residents and tourists in the recreational areas of the Poprad Landscape Park.

The aim of the study was to compare the effect of two concentrations (0.1 and 1%) of different plant substances on dettering Rhyzopertha dominica F. and Sitophilus granarius L. Both species were treated with the essential oils of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. and Carum carvi L. as well as L-carvone, anethole and thymoquinone. In addition, the repellent effect of yachycline oil and dialyl disulphide was tested on R. dominica. The tests were carried in laboratory. The deterrence of insects were noted after 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 24 and 48 h. It turned out that the essential oils and chemical compounds used in the experiments do not show the normal relationship described in the previous literature on storage pests, in which the repellency gets higher with the increase in the concentration of the tested plant material. It was found that a lower dose of the tested substances causes a greater deterrence of these species of beetles. In the case of R. dominica, the highest repellant effect was exerted by the concentration of 0.1%: carvone, diallyl disulphide and yachlane oil. Differences between the concentration of 0.1% and 1% were found among all tested substances in each time interval in the deterrent of R. dominica. This difference ranged from 4.17% to 52.92%. All substances used in the tests had a large deterrent effect on S. granarius (from 48 to 100%). Differences in the deterrence of S. granarius were found between 0.1% and 1% concentration in most of the tested substances in each time interval. The difference ranged from 1% to 15.42%.