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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.06.30.662279

Phenology of Hyalomma marginatum in a site in southern French

STACHURSKI, F.·DUHAYON, M.·Appelgren, A.·BALANCA, G.·POLLET, T.·Vial, L.
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Abstract

Hyalomma marginatum tick establishment has been recorded in southern mainland France for around ten years. This two-host species is one of the main vectors of the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus. Knowing the phenology of the tick is a prerequisite for a better understanding of its spread and of CCHF virus dispersal. A longitudinal study was carried out between 2016 and 2022 in a horse herd to determine the seasonal variations of H. marginatum infestation. In the study site, adult ticks started infesting their hosts from the beginning of March. Infestation peaked during the first weeks of May. At that period, on average, up to 4 or 5 ticks attached daily to each horse. Then, the infestation steadily decreased until the end of August. In this site, birds are parasitised by H. marginatum immatures (larvae and nymphs) in summer, from mid/late June to the end of September. The larvae are therefore not yet active when the migratory birds pass through in spring. Blackbird, Turdus merula, was the most heavily infested bird species: nearly two-thirds of the blackbirds examined in summer were parasitised by H. marginatum. It is suggested that this bird species could be a good sentinel host for monitoring the establishment of the tick in currently H. marginatum-free areas. To complete these surveys, an experimental study was carried out in quasi-natural conditions with engorged ticks placed in cages in the garrigue. It was shown that the nymphs moulted into adults within 3-4 weeks in July-August. However, they remain completely immobile in the litter, undergoing a behavioural diapause, until the following spring. On the other hand, almost all the nymphs released later, in September or October, died during the cold and rainy season. It was also observed that engorged females were able to survive the cold conditions up to 6-8 months before laying eggs. The study also suggested that there were predators of H. marginatum, likely ants and spiders, in the study site. The hosts monitored over all these years were not only infested by H. marginatum. The phenology of other tick species parasitizing horses (Dermacentor marginatus, Haemaphysalis punctata, Rhipicephalus bursa) and birds (Ixodes frontalis, I. ricinus, H. punctata) was also highlighted for this study site.

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STACHURSKI, F., DUHAYON, M., Appelgren, A., BALANCA, G., POLLET, T., Vial, L.. 2025-07-04. Phenology of Hyalomma marginatum in a site in southern French. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.06.30.662279

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