Background: Ticks are hematophagous arthropods which normally attach to the surface of the skin of the host for the blood meal. Their aberrant presence in the subcutaneous tissue of few carnivores, predominantly foxes has been reported. However, there are no reports in other carnivores such as mustelids or golden jackals. Our aim was to investigate and broaden the host spectrum for this aberrant localization of ticks.
Methods: Between 2015 and 2020, 198 carnivore carcasses from 12 species have been examined by parasitological necropsy. If subcutaneous ticks were found, the nodules were removed, carefully dissected, and stored in ethanol. The identification of the subcutaneous ticks was carried out at the species level.
Results: A single subcutaneous tick was found in one sample, a golden jackal and was identified as a female Ixodes ricinus. All other carcasses were negative for subcutaneous ticks.
Conclusion: The present paper represents the first report of a subcutaneous tick in a golden jackal (Canis aureus), extends the host spectrum of this unusual phenomenon and demonstrates to date its presence only in canid carnivores.

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On 29 Nov, 2020
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On 29 Jul, 2020
On 29 Jul, 2020
On 29 Jul, 2020
On 28 Jul, 2020
On 29 Nov, 2020
On 27 Nov, 2020
On 27 Nov, 2020
On 27 Nov, 2020
On 18 Nov, 2020
Received 18 Nov, 2020
Invitations sent on 16 Nov, 2020
On 11 Nov, 2020
On 11 Nov, 2020
On 11 Nov, 2020
Posted 30 Jul, 2020
On 28 Oct, 2020
Received 28 Oct, 2020
On 22 Sep, 2020
Received 09 Sep, 2020
On 03 Sep, 2020
Invitations sent on 02 Sep, 2020
On 29 Jul, 2020
On 29 Jul, 2020
On 29 Jul, 2020
On 28 Jul, 2020
Background: Ticks are hematophagous arthropods which normally attach to the surface of the skin of the host for the blood meal. Their aberrant presence in the subcutaneous tissue of few carnivores, predominantly foxes has been reported. However, there are no reports in other carnivores such as mustelids or golden jackals. Our aim was to investigate and broaden the host spectrum for this aberrant localization of ticks.
Methods: Between 2015 and 2020, 198 carnivore carcasses from 12 species have been examined by parasitological necropsy. If subcutaneous ticks were found, the nodules were removed, carefully dissected, and stored in ethanol. The identification of the subcutaneous ticks was carried out at the species level.
Results: A single subcutaneous tick was found in one sample, a golden jackal and was identified as a female Ixodes ricinus. All other carcasses were negative for subcutaneous ticks.
Conclusion: The present paper represents the first report of a subcutaneous tick in a golden jackal (Canis aureus), extends the host spectrum of this unusual phenomenon and demonstrates to date its presence only in canid carnivores.

Figure 1
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
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