抄録
Understanding the hard tick (Acari: Ixodida) fauna of the Iriomote cat (Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis Imaizumi 1967), an endangered species, is important for ecosystem conservation. However, there are no comprehensive reports on this topic. In this study, literature on the composition of tick species infesting Iriomote cats between 1975 and 2012 were compared. This study also reviewed on tick-borne pathogens found on Iriomote Island. Ticks Amblyomma testudinarium Koch 1844, Haemaphysalis hystricis Supino 1897, Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann 1901, and Asiatic blue ticks (Rhipicephalus [Boophilus] microplus Canestrini 1888) were identified from Iriomote cats. Asiatic blue ticks were identified in 1975 and 1983–1985, whereas H. longicornis was identified from Iriomote cats for the first time in 2011–2012. Amblyomma testudinarium and H. hystricis were identified from Iriomote cats throughout the study period. Gene fragments of Anaplasma bovis Dumler et al. 2001, Babesia gibsoni Patton 1910, Bartonella henselae Brenner et al. 1993, Ehrlichia canis Donatien and Lestoquard 1935, Hepatozoon felis Patton 1908, and Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum were detected in ticks and/or animals such as domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris Linnaeus 1758), domestic cats (Felis catus Linnaeus 1758) and Iriomote cats on Iriomote Island. However, because the same genotypes of tick-borne pathogens were unknown or have not been detected in animal and tick species, the transmission network of tick-borne pathogens between hosts and ticks on Iriomote Island is unknown. Further studies are needed to understand the network structure of host-tick-pathogens on Iriomote Island, based on accurate identification of the pathogen genotype, and the risk of tick-borne pathogens in the Iriomote cat.
