Fan Xueyang, Ma Rui, Yue Changjuan, Liu Jiabin, Yue Bisong, Yang Wanjing, Li Yunli, Gu Jiang, Ayala James E, Bunker Daniel E, Yan Xia, Qi Dunwu, Su Xiaoyan, Li Lin, Zhang Dongsheng, Zhang Hongwen, Yang Zhisong, Hou Rong, Liu Songrui
Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Panda Road, Chenghua District, Sichuan Province, 610081, China.
Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology on Endangered Wildlife, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, Sichuan, China.
Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl. 2023 Feb 24;20:162-169. doi: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.02.005. eCollection 2023 Apr.
Ticks and tick-borne diseases have negative impacts on the health of wild animals including endangered and vulnerable species. The giant panda (), a vulnerable and iconic flagship species, is threatened by tick infestation as well. Not only can ticks cause anemia and immunosuppression in the giant panda, but also bacterial and viral diseases. However, previous studies regarding tick infestation on giant pandas were limited in scope as case reports from sick or dead animals. In this study, an investigation focusing on the tick infestation of a reintroduced giant panda at the Daxiangling Reintroduction Base in Sichuan, China was conducted. Ticks were routinely collected and identified from the ears of the giant panda from March to September in 2021. A linear model was used to test the correlation between tick abundance and climate factors. All ticks were identified as . Tick abundance was significantly different among months. Results from the linear model showed temperature positively correlated to tick abundance, while air pressure had a negative correlation with tick abundance. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first reported investigation of tick species and abundance on a healthy giant panda living in the natural environment, and provides important information for the conservation of giant pandas and other species sharing the same habitat.
蜱虫及蜱传疾病对包括濒危和易危物种在内的野生动物健康产生负面影响。大熊猫作为一种易危且具有代表性的旗舰物种，也受到蜱虫侵扰的威胁。蜱虫不仅会导致大熊猫贫血和免疫抑制，还会引发细菌和病毒疾病。然而，以往关于大熊猫蜱虫侵扰的研究范围有限，多为病亡动物的病例报告。在本研究中，对中国四川大相岭放归基地一只放归的大熊猫的蜱虫侵扰情况进行了调查。于2021年3月至9月定期从这只大熊猫的耳部采集并鉴定蜱虫。使用线性模型测试蜱虫数量与气候因素之间的相关性。所有蜱虫均被鉴定为 。蜱虫数量在不同月份间存在显著差异。线性模型结果显示温度与蜱虫数量呈正相关，而气压与蜱虫数量呈负相关。据我们所知，本研究是首次报道对生活在自然环境中的健康大熊猫身上蜱虫种类和数量的调查，为大熊猫及共享同一栖息地的其他物种的保护提供了重要信息。
