Purpose Although usually of minor importance for their wild ungulate hosts, ticks and more recently also louse flies are receiving considerable attention, mainly because of the multitude of pathogens associated with them. Knowledge about the occurrence of these ectoparasites in wild ungulates in Germany is limited, as access to study material is often difficult. Methods Hunters who contributed tissue samples for a study into vector-borne infections in mouflon and roe deer were asked to also grossly examine the carcasses of these animals and collect ectoparasites, which were then identified to the species. Results Ectoparasites were collected from 105 of 153 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and 84 of 153 mouflon (Ovis gmelini musimon) harvested in 11 areas in Germany where both ungulate species co-occurred. In roe deer, three species each of louse flies (Lipoptena cervi, Lipoptena fortisetosa, Hippobosca equina) and ticks (Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes hexagonus, Ixodes rugicollis) were identified; in mouflon, three species each of louse flies (L. cervi, L. fortisetosa, Melophagus ovinus) and ticks (I. ricinus, I. hexagonus, I. rugicollis) as well as and one louse species (Bovicola ovis) were identified. Hippobosca equina was for the first time recorded in roe deer in Germany, and the findings of I. rugicollis in roe deer as well as of L. fortisetosa, M. ovinus, I. hexagonus and I. rugicollis in mouflon are the first records of these ectoparasites in the two ungulate species. Overall, ectoparasites were more often collected from roe deer compared to mouflon (68.6% vs. 54.9%; p = 0.0185). Ticks were collected from 52.9% of roe deer and mouflon each, and louse flies were collected from 33.3% of roe deer and 9.8% of mouflon (p < 0.0001). Ticks were thus identified more frequently than louse flies in both roe deer and mouflon (p < 0.001). Differences in the phenology of the two Lipoptena species were noted. Conclusion The results of this work indicate that samples collected by hunters can make an important contribution to the study of ectoparasites of wild animals, which are becoming increasingly important for veterinary and human medicine.

Louse Flies (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) and Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Sympatric Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) and European Mouflon (Ovis gmelini musimon) in Germany: A Study Based on Samples Collected by Hunters

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发表日期：

2026年7月27日

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Steffen Rehbein,
Martin Visser,
Mike Heddergott

摘要

Purpose

Although usually of minor importance for their wild ungulate hosts, ticks and more recently also louse flies are receiving considerable attention, mainly because of the multitude of pathogens associated with them. Knowledge about the occurrence of these ectoparasites in wild ungulates in Germany is limited, as access to study material is often difficult.

Methods

Hunters who contributed tissue samples for a study into vector-borne infections in mouflon and roe deer were asked to also grossly examine the carcasses of these animals and collect ectoparasites, which were then identified to the species.

Results

Ectoparasites were collected from 105 of 153 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and 84 of 153 mouflon (Ovis gmelini musimon) harvested in 11 areas in Germany where both ungulate species co-occurred. In roe deer, three species each of louse flies (Lipoptena cervi, Lipoptena fortisetosa, Hippobosca equina) and ticks (Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes hexagonus, Ixodes rugicollis) were identified; in mouflon, three species each of louse flies (L. cervi, L. fortisetosa, Melophagus ovinus) and ticks (I. ricinus, I. hexagonus, I. rugicollis) as well as and one louse species (Bovicola ovis) were identified. Hippobosca equina was for the first time recorded in roe deer in Germany, and the findings of I. rugicollis in roe deer as well as of L. fortisetosa, M. ovinus, I. hexagonus and I. rugicollis in mouflon are the first records of these ectoparasites in the two ungulate species. Overall, ectoparasites were more often collected from roe deer compared to mouflon (68.6% vs. 54.9%; p = 0.0185). Ticks were collected from 52.9% of roe deer and mouflon each, and louse flies were collected from 33.3% of roe deer and 9.8% of mouflon (p < 0.0001). Ticks were thus identified more frequently than louse flies in both roe deer and mouflon (p < 0.001). Differences in the phenology of the two Lipoptena species were noted.

Conclusion

The results of this work indicate that samples collected by hunters can make an important contribution to the study of ectoparasites of wild animals, which are becoming increasingly important for veterinary and human medicine.