Biology of Argas persicus in natural conditions of Central Tajikistan

The purpose of the research is to investigate biological characteristics of Argas persicus in natural environment of Central Tajikistan. Materials and methods. The study was conducted in 2017–2018 in the Parasitology Department of the E. N. Pavlovsky Institute of Zoology and Parasitology, on the former Sharifzoda poultry farm in the Faizabad District and the Kholboboev Makhbub poultry farm in the Baljuvon District. A. persicus ticks were collected from poultry buildings and wild bird nests on March 10, 2017. Experiments were conducted on 10 young domestic chickens aged approximately 5 months. The M. G. Zhdanova method (1948) was used to obtain eggs and to feed A. persicus larvae and nymphae. Results and discussion. Our experiments took 59 to 157 days to develop one generation of A. persicus ticks, excluding the time for females to prepare and lay eggs. However, the time required for preparation and egg laying must be considered. Subject to this period (22–54 days), tick development continues for 81 to 209 days (or 3 to 7 months) in our conditions. Our data indicate that the average A. persicus development period is 145 days, i.e. one generation of ticks can develop during the warm season. However, if metamorphosis occurs in the shortest time (81 days), two generations may develop.