Ixodid ticks in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ticks of the Ixodidae family represent an enormous threat to human and animal health. From January to December 2004, a total of 10,050 ixodid ticks were collected from 26 areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina and determined to the species level. Ticks were collected from dogs, sheep, cows, goats, rodents, humans and plants. Ixodes ricinus was the most prevalent species, followed by Dermacentor marginatus marginatus, Rhipicephalus bursa, Hyalomma marginatum marginatum, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Haemaphysalis punctata, Dermacentor reticulatus and Ixodes hexagonus.