Contribution to the fauna of bat-parasitizing ticks in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This article explores the presence of ticks that parasitize bats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The researchers collected tick samples from bats and stone walls in northeastern Bosnia and identified them as Ixodes vespertilionis. This is the first molecular record of I. vespertilionis in the region. The study suggests that the migratory behavior of the bat species Miniopterus schreibersii may explain the presence of ticks with the same haplotype in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. I. vespertilionis is significant due to its wide host range and potential to carry disease-causing pathogens. The article highlights the need for further research on bat species composition and migratory patterns in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as monitoring tick species presence, to better understand the implications for public health and wildlife ecology. [Extracted from the article]