[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.