WANG Xin, HUANG Ying, ZHOU Xiao-qing, FENG Hao, CHEN Xi-peng, ZHU Hai-yang, LYU Meng-meng, CHEN Hao, JIANG Bao-gui, CAI Rong
Objective This study aimed to comprehensively survey the tick distribution in the natural scenic belts of various counties and districts in Huai'an City, Jiangsu Province, and to provide guidance on tick control measures. Methods From 2023 to 2024, questing ticks in 29 natural scenic belts spanning seven counties and districts of Huai'an City were collected using hand-scratching method. Further, parasitic ticks in the surrounding areas were collected using the animal search method. Collected ticks were subsequently identified to the species level in the laboratory. Results In total, 288 questing ticks were collected, all belonging to the genus Haemaphysalis of family Ixodidae. Hae. longicornis was the dominant species, accounting for 98.61%, followed by Hae. flava (1.04%) and Hae. phasiana (0.35%). The average tick density index in Lotus Lake Scenic Area (Jinhu County), All-People Fitness Theme Park (Lianshui County), Peach Blossom Valley (QingjiangpuDistrict), Huai'an Forest Park (Huai'an District), Qizu of Gaozhuang Village (Hongze District), Ancient Yellow River Sports Park (Huaiyin District), Putao Trench and (Xuyi County) was 0.022, 0.025, 0.01, 0.10, 0.22, 0.28, and 0.79ticks/flag·100 m, respectively. In total, 114 parasitic ticks were collected at the monitoring sites, with an average tick infestation rate of 69.25% in sheep and 100% in dogs at Tianquanhu Town in Xuyi County; all of these were Hae. longicornis. All parasitic ticks were from Xuyi County, and no parasitic ticks were found at the monitoring sites in Huai'an District, Hongze District, and Lianshui County. Conclusions Overall, with the advancement of eco-tourism resorts and urban greening construction in Huai'an City, the presence of ticks was confirmed by this study in previously unsurveyed areas. As the frequency of human-animal interactions increases in these areas, the potential risk of tick-borne diseases also rises. Furthermore, this study provides important clues for subsequent investigations into local tick-borne pathogens.