Long term investigations on tick infestations of human.

In this study, a total of 19866 samples which were collected from humans who applied to the hospitals with tick bites in the western part of Turkey (Bursa) between the years 2007 and 2011 (from February to November) were examined. Approximately 10% (1985) of samples were found as non-ticks like bee stings, lice, fleas and other arthropods. The ticks were identified as Rhipicephalus spp. (72.98%), Ixodes spp. (18.96%), Hyalomma spp. (7.18%), Dermacentor marginatus (0.027%) and Haemaphysalis parva (0.005%). Based on localities, majority of the tick samples were reported from the urbanized areas (81%). Especially, Ixodes spp. species were commonly found in highland and forestry areas of Bursa.