Japanese Hard Ticks (Ixodes nipponensis) Parasitizing on the Endangered Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilura) in the Republic of Korea

• Published in: Animal systematics, evolution and diversity Vol. 34; no. 1; p. 23
• Main Authors: Kim, Kyungmin, #, Kong, Sungsik, Kim, Ye Inn, Borzée, Amaël, Bae, Yoonhyuk, Jang, Yikweon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul Korean Society of Systematic Zoology 01.01.2018
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Cytochrome oxidase I; Ectoparasites; Human influences; Ixodes nipponensis; Mitochondria; Panthera pardus orientalis; Panthera tigris altaica; Parasites; Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus; Species extinction; Ticks; Wildcats; South Korea
• ISSN: 2234-6953; 2234-8190
• DOI: 10.5635/ASED.2018.34.1.032

Because of the potential negative influence on their hosts, ecto-parasites are of prime importance to numerous species. Ticks are among these, distributed worldwide, and potentially transmitting diseases while sucking blood of diverse hosts. The leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilura Elliot, 1871) is the only felid left in the Republic of Korea following widespread anthropogenic disturbances that have resulted in the extinction of both Panthera species: the Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica Temminck, 1844) and Amur leopard (P. pardus orientalis (Schlegel, 1857)). This study identifies ticks collected from a roadkill leopard cat retrieved in Seosan area in the Republic of Korea. Two ticks attached to the facial area of the carcass were identified as Japanese hard ticks, Ixodes nipponensis, based on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I. The matching sample was from Japan with 99.7% similarities, and the only available sequence on GenBank. This study reconfirms that I. nipponensis parasitizes the endangered leopard cat P. bengalensis euptilura.