Ixodid ticks in St. Petersburg: a possible threat to public health

Abstract

Seasonal field investigations of the distribution and abundance of four ixodid tick species in the urban area of St. Petersburg and of their host species - small, medium-sized, and large vertebrates - were carried out in 2006-2010. A total of 27 sites in this area were studied. Stable populations of ixodid ticks were present in forests near the Morskaya railway station, in the Lake Razliv region, the Northern and Southern cemeteries, and the Rzhevskij and Nevskij forest parks. These areas are most dangerous for people. The largest number of the ticks Ixodes persulcatus in St. Petersburg was 18 adults per 1 dragging hour (in the forest near Lake Razliv).