PREVALENCIJA KRPELJA ŠIKARE NA PODRUČJU KARLOVAČKE ŽUPANIJE

master's thesis

• Title (english): HARD TICK PREVALENCE IN KARLOVAC COUNTY
• Author: Kristina Perez
• Mentor: Franjo Martinković (mentor)
• Committee member: Krešimir Matanović (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Maja Lukač (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Franjo Martinković (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Krešimir Severin (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2021-10, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Veterinary Medicine; Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety

Abstract

Krpelji šikare su obligatni, hematofagni ektoparaziti koji prenose uzročnike zaraznih i
invazijskih bolesti (viruse, bakterije, protiste i obliće) na životinje i čovjeka. Poznato je da su
samo određene vrste krpelja vektori određenih uzročnika bolesti te se njihova distribucija
razlikuje ovisno o geografskom području i godišnjem dobu. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je
istražiti na koji način se mijenjaju prevalencija i brojnost određenih vrsta krpelja šikare u
Karlovačkoj županiji ovisno o mjesecu u godini i o području pretraživanja te sukladno s tim
dobiti uvid u kojim područjima je povećana mogućnost zaraze određenim uzročnicima bolesti
koje prenose krpelji šikare. Krpelji su prikupljeni iz okoliša, a razvojni stadij i vrsta
determinirani pomoću za to već postojećih ključeva. Rezultati identifikacije prikazani su
vlastitim crtežima i fotografijama, a prevalencija pomoću deskriptivne statistike. Pronađene
su vrste I. ricinus, D. reticulatus i H. punctata. Vrsta I. ricinus bila je najbrojnija na području
Karlovačke županije među prikupljenim uzorcima s prevalencijom od 84,52% (142/168).
Krpelji vrste D. reticulatus tijekom istraživanja pronađeni su samo na sjeveroistoku županije s
ukupnom prevalencijom 8.92% (15/168), a vrsta H. punctata samo na jugu gdje je činila
trećinu uzoraka te na području cjelokupne županije 6,54% (11/168). Temeljem dobivenih
rezultata, s obzirom na brojnost i rasprostranjenost, vrsta I. ricinus u Karlovačkoj županiji
predstavlja generalno najveći rizik u prijenosu određenih zaraznih i invazijskih bolesti na
životinje i ljude, no u obzir treba uzeti vektorski potencijal vrste D. reticulatus sjeverno te H.
punctata u južnome dijelu županije.

Abstract (english)

Hard ticks are obligate, hematophagous ectoparasites which can transmit pathogens that cause
infectious diseases (viruses, bacteria, protozoa and helmintes) in animals and humans. It is
known that only certain species of hard ticks are vectors for certain causative agents and their
distribution is different depending on geographic location and season of the year. Aim of this
research was to determine how are prevelence and abundance of some hard tick species in
Karlovac county changing in regards to month of the year and search area. This information
gives an insight of which areas are the ones with higher possibility of contracting a tick-born
diseases. The results are shown for species I. ricinus, D. reticulatus and H. punctata. Ticks are
collected from the enviroment and species and life stages were determined using drawings
and photographs. Ticks were collected from the enviroment and, developmental stages and
species were determined using the existing determination keys. The results of the
identification were shown with their original drawings and photographs while prevalence was
shown using descriptive statistics. The species I. ricinus, D. reticulatus and H. punctata were
collected. I. ricinus, collected in Karlovac county area, was the most abundant among
collected samples with prevalence of 84,52% (142/168). During the research, D. reticulatus
ticks were found only in the northeast part of the county with total prevalence of 8.92%
(15/168) while H. punctata was found only in the southern part of the county making the
overall prevalence of 6.54% (11/168). Based on the obtained results, considering the
abundance and distribution in Karlovac county area, the I. ricinus represents te highest risk
factor in transmiting certain contagious diseases on animals and humans. However, the
vectoral capacity of D. reticulatus northeast and H. punctata in the south should be also taken
into consideration.

• Keywords: krpelji šikare; morfologija; prevalencija; Karlovačka županija
• Keywords (english): hard ticks; morphology; prevalence; Karlovac county
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:178:973907
• Study programme: Title: Veterinary Medicine; Study programme type: university; Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate; Academic / professional title: doktor/doktorica veterinarske medicine (doktor/doktorica veterinarske medicine)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access; Embargo expiration date: 2022-10-05
• Created on: 2021-10-18 09:25:29