Molecular features of Ixodes kazakstani: first results.

Ticks of the Ixodes ricinus group are important vectors of human pathogens in both Eurasia and North America; therefore, many studies have focused on their molecular systematics and evolutionary relationships. However, there are species that have not been characterized by molecular genetic methods so far. For the first time, we obtained nucleotide sequences of two nuclear and three mitochondrial genetic markers from four museum specimen of I. kazakstani Olenev et Sorokoumov, 1934, collected in Kyrgyzstan. The phylogenetic analysis showed that I. kazakstani undoubtedly belongs to the I. ricinus group but is not closely related to I. persulcatus, as was expected. Further studies of the genetic features of I. kazakstani, presumably an intermediate between Nearctic and Palearctic species, would elucidate the evolutionary relationships between tick species within the I. ricinus group.

[A new gamasid mite species, Haemogamasus limneticus sp. n. (Parasitoformes: Gamasoidea), from Kyrgyzstan].

A new mite species of the genus Haemogamasus Berlese is described from the muskrat in Kyrgyzstan. Differential diagnoses of species of this genus from Kyrgyzstan are given.

[Gamasid mites (Gamasina) of rodents in the natural biotopes of Tchui Valley].

The recent fauna of gamasid mites parasitising rodents in the natural biotopes of Tchui Valley (Kyrgyzstan) in investigated. 32 species of Gamasina are revealed, of which 9 are recorded in the region for the first time. A checklist of the gamasid mites is given.

[Ixodidae ticks in Bishkek].

The fauna of Ixodidae ticks was studied in Bishkek in 1998-2004. The city is situated in the center of the Chuisk valley, at the foot of the Kirghiz ridge, at the boundary of a submountain-plain-arid region and a plain-piedmont-semiarid one with steppe fragments. The ticks were gathered on a flag from small mammalians caught by Gero traps, from birds, domestic and agricultural animals. A total of 648 animals of 13 species were examined. The bites of ticks were registered in 98 persons in the city. A total of 1085 ticks of all developmental phases were gathered. The faunal complex of Ixodidae ticks was represented by the following species: Ixodes persulcatus Sch (domination index (DI) = 0.45), Haemaphysalis punctata Can. Et Fanz (DI = 21.93), Haemaphysalis erinacei Paves (DI = 1.0), Dermacentor marginatus Sulter (DI = 0.27), Rhipicephaluspumilio Sch. (DI = 0.84), Rhipicephalus sanguineus Latr. (DI = 0.56), Rhipicephalus turanicus Pom (DI = 74.85), Hyalomma anatolicum Koch (DI = 0.87). The regional and climatic conditions of Bishkek and the presence of profeeders in the private sector (domestic and agricultural animals, synanthropic rodents, and birds) favor the existence of the R. turanicus population. The mosaic pattern of a cultural region in the center of the city permits small populations of several species of ticks to exist.