An analysis of tick surveillance results in Xuzhou City from 2020 to 2023

HUANG Liye; LIU Xue

doi:10.19821/j.1671-2781.2025.01.012

Abstract：Objective To understand the distribution of tick species in Xuzhou City,so as to provide reference data for precise control of ticks and tick borne diseases.Methods Drag-flag method was used for free-living ticks,and body surface inspection method was used for parasitic ticks.Results A total of 1 250 ticks were collected from 2020 to 2023,belonging to 2 genera and 3 species.Among them,Haemaphysalis longicornis accounted for 92.08％(1 151 ticks),which was the dominant tick species.Rhipicephalus sanguineus accounted for 7.68％(96 ticks),and Haemaphysalis phasiana accounted for 0.24％(3 ticks).The average density of free-living ticks was 1.15 ticks/100 m,and the highest density was in 2020,and in forest habitats.The average density of parasitic ticks was 6.84 ticks/host,and the highest infection rate was in 2023,with a statistically significant difference(x2=15.484,P＜0.05).The infection rate of sheep was higher than that of dog,but there was no statistically significant difference(x2=2.314,P＞0.05).The highest density of free-living ticks and parasitic ticks were in April.Conclusion Ticks are found to breed in rural outdoor environments,scenic areas,and the bodies of host animals in Xuzhou City.Haemaphysalis longicornis is the dominant tick species in Xuzhou City,and forest habitats and sheep hosts are the key targets for control.The highest tick density is in spring,suggesting that spring is the best time for tick control.