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Studies on diurnal activity and factors affecting the questing behavior in Dermacentor reticulatus (F.) adults were conducted in an open-type habitat in eastern Poland (51 degrees 15' N, 22 degrees 36' E). Observations, for 25 min each, were made at 2-h intervals between 1000 and 1800 hours, during the autumn (from late September to mid-October 2000) and spring (from late April to mid-May 2001) activity peaks. The questing behavior of adult D. reticulatus ticks depended on the time of the day and season. The autumn activity was higher than that in spring, yet both these periods were characterized by a rising trend from the morning to early afternoon with a peak at approximately 1400 hours (on average 40 and 30 specimens per one collection, respectively). In spring, the high activity (on average 31.8 specimens/ collection) persisted until late afternoon (1800 hours), while in the autumn period it declined before nightfall (on average 21.4 specimens/collection at 1800 hours). Females predominated over males in both seasonal periods of activity and greater differences in the sex ratio were recorded in the spring. We found a negative correlation between the diurnal activity of the adult ticks and temperature and between the number of active ticks and the length of day both in the autumn and spring. However, no statistically significant correlation was demonstrated between the diurnal activity of adult ticks and humidity. The investigations show that, in addition to environmental factors, tick host-seeking behavior is dependent on the activity of their hosts and biological traits of this species.

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Some derivatives of naphthoylenebenzimidazole as well as their mixtures with arachidic acid have been incorporated in Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett films. Surface pressure versus mean molecular area isotherms for Langmuir films were recorded and the organization of molecules at the air-water interface has been estimated. Absorption spectra in situ for Langmuir films and both absorption and fluorescence spectra for LB films have been recorded. The results obtained from spectroscopic studies have led to conclusions about formation of self-aggregates by dye molecules at interfaces. In the ground electronic state some fraction of the I- and J-type aggregates have been created, whereas in the excited state the creation of genuine excimers has been observed.

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The authors analysed the structure of Ixodes ricinus (L.) larvae in specimens immediately after leaving the egg sheaths, in those which have not fed for 2 months after hatching, and in feeding larvae on the second day of feeding. The results showed that salivary glands in tick larvae are formed by alveoli aligned in strands on both sides of the central nervous system. These alveoli open into central efferent ducts via short ducts. The constituent elements of salivary glands include pyramidal alveoli (with numerous lipid droplets) and granular alveoli of varied structure. It is worth noting that salivary alveoli containing secretory material are present even in the larvae which had just left egg sheaths and were still endowed with deutoplasm.

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Dermacentor reticulatus is widely distributed dangerous tick that usually lives in the river valleys, boggy forests, meadows, and wooded pastures. Tick populations from various regions may exhibit morphological differences. In our study we compared morphometric features of tarsus in larvae D. reticulatus from Polish and Slovakian populations. I tarsus width, III tarsus length, and length of dorsal setae of I tarsus were significantly higher in Polish populations. Indices of width to length of tarsus I and tarsus III were also significantly different in both populations. The other examined morphologic features were similar, what may result from the same environmental conditions of both populations.

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The aim of the work was to study the prevalence of pediculosis capitis among schoolchildren in rural areas of Lublin Province in Eastern Poland and to examine its correlation with socio-economic conditions. A group of 42759 schoolchildren aged between 6 and 15 years from 52 rural primary schools were examined. The level of unemployment, number of physicians and number of nurses per 10000 inhabitants were examined in the area of experiment. We achieved the following results: a total of 682 children were found to be infested with Pediculus humanus capitis, mean prevalence was 1.6%. The girls were more frequently infected than boys (75% for girls and 24% for boys). The children most frequently affected were those aged 6 (1.6%) and 8 to 12 years (1.6-2.1%). The children least affected were those aged 13 to 14 years (0.8-1.1%). The infestation rate was strictly correlated with the number of nurses per 10000 inhabitants. There was no relationship between the level of unemployment or the number of physicians and the infestation rate on experimental area. Our investigations seems to confirme that the prevalence of P. h. capitis is influenced by the level of primary health care, particulary quality of school nurses' work.

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The effect of 90% RH on the embryonic development of Hyalomma marginatum marginatum Koch was investigated at 25 degrees C. Under the influence of this factor, 2.1% dead eggs, 13.0% dead embryos, 6.9% abnormally hatched larvae, 0.2% larvae with malformations, and 77.8% normal larvae appeared. The embryos died during the cleavage of nuclei, the formation of the blastoderm, the formation of the germ band and its metamerization, and the differentiation of the leg anlagen. Egg hatch was also inhibited in various phases. Various kinds of anomalies were observed in larvae of Hyalomma m. marginatum. Most teratological changes (70.8%) occurred within the idiosoma. They were hetromorphose (32.6%), oligomely (15.4%), heterosymely (12.3%), symely (1.5%), atrophy (6.1%), and ectomely (3.1%). Anomalies within the gnathosoma occurred rarely (3.1%). As many as 26.2% larvae had composite anomalies (oligomely, heterosymely, atrophy) together. They contained various structures of the gnathosoma or idiosoma. These anomalies decreased the survival rate of the larvae. The investigations showed that during the formation of the blastoderm, the formation of the germ band and its metamerization the embryos have the largest susceptibility of being affected by high humidity. Some anomalies in specimens collected from nature may develop under influence of unfavorable humidity levels.

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Toxins have been shown to present in the salivary glands, whole body extracts, and eggs of ticks. They cause histological lesions in the skin, and in various organs of tick hosts. Among toxicoses, tick paralysis is of the greatest medical and veterinary importance. Toxins are secreted by cells "b" of acinus II in salivary glands during tick feeding.

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Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies show the differences in structure, number and topography of terminal setae in the palpal organ in different stages of Hyalomma marginatum marginatum Koch, 1844. The palpal organ contains eight terminal setae in larvae and nymphs, and ten setae in adults. The length of these setae increases in the course of post-embryonic development. Other setae on palpal segments also undergo quantitative and morphological changes.

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Ticks respond to host stimuli, such as higher CO2 concentrations,vibrations, odour, touch, radiant heat ad kairomones. The behaviour al reactions to these host stimuli vary among tick species. Among these arthropods hunter (actively running in the direction of host) or ambusher ticks (passively waiting for host on the vegetation) occur. Hallers organ, palpal organ, cheliceral organ and receptors on scutum and alloscutum are involved in tick feeding behaviour.

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Non-parasitic phase of ticks is the most critical period of their life cycle. During off host period the ticks must maintain the water homeostasis and must find a host for feeding. Body water homeostasis is one of the most important processes that influences tick survival in nature and transmission of pathogens. Structure of intergument, particularly the waxy lipids in the epicuticle, and structure of peritremes restrict the loss of water from tick body. The water losses may be compensated by uptake of water vapour from the atmosphere. The critical equilibrium humidity of tick species of Ixodidae family range from 70 to 96% r.h. During non-feeding period, behaviour of ticks contributes to the maintenance of body water. The ticks aviod the microhabitats where loss of water may be accelerated.

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Light and scanning electron microscopic studies showed the differences in morphology and in size of Haller's organ in larvae, nymphs and adults (females and males) of Hyalomma marginatum marginatum Koch, 1844. The length of the anterior pit setae increases during post-embryonic development. The localization of these setae is the same in all stages. Six setae (one porose seta, two grooved setae, two fine setae, one conical seta) contain anterior pit of various developmental stages. In nymphs and adults more numerous pores appear on the wall surface of porose seta than in the larval stage. The structure of the capsule roof also differs in various developmental stages. Haller's organ of Hyalomma m. marginatum shows great degree of morphological development which is connected with the complicated life cycle and feeding behaviour of this tick species.

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Various kinds of morphological anomalies, i.e. general (the changes in the shape and the asymmetry of body, the duplication of body, the nanism, the gigantism and the gynandromorphism), and local (oligomely, atrophy, polimely, heterosymely, symely, schistomely, ectomely, heteromorphose, disturbances in the structure of leg segments, cyclopy) occur in Ixodida. The anomalies within taxonomically important structures make the determination of tick species difficult or even impossible. Therefore, the anomalies deforming systematic features of different instars from Argasidae and Ixodidae families were first of all taken into account.

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Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus ticks were collected by flagging from the vegetation at five different locations in Poland in May 1994. I. ricinus (n191) and D. reticulatus (n48), as well as 24 Argas reflexus collected from Katowice, Kornie, Szcyglice, Urwitalt and Zwierzyniec, were examined for the presence of Borrelia spirochetes by the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFA). Borrelia were found in adult I. ricinus ticks at all 5 collection sites. Nine out of 39 I. ricinus males (23%) and 16 out of 72 I. ricinus females (22.2%) were infected. In addition, 2 out of 72 I. ricinus larvae (2.7%) were heavily infected, whereas none of the D. reticulatus and A. reflexus contained Borrelia. These results show that I. ricinus is also in Poland the main vector of Lyme disease-causing spirochetes. The finding that some larvae are also infected merits further investigations into the relative role of transovarial transmission of Borrelia in field populations of I. ricinus ticks.

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Fecundity and reproductive activity of 179 females of Argas (A.) reflexus in laboratory conditions, i.e. at temperature 23 +/- 1 degree C and 75% of relative humidity were observed. Under these conditions reproduction activity of females fed in spring lasted since March till August. However, most of females (63.0-91.8%) laid eggs in June and July. Disturbances in egg-laying process of Argas (A.) reflexus females fed in abnormal time, i.e., in autumn and kept in laboratory conditions, were stated. These females were active since December till July (maximum activity was observed in February-34.3% and March-40.0%). Pre-oviposition and oviposition periods were observed in this study, too.

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The influence of purulent claw-diseases on the development of uterus infections, its involution and ovary dysfunctions (acyclia, cysts) was examined. It was shown that A. pyogenes, Ps. aeruginosa, Fus. necrophorum and other microorganisms involved in these lesions are potential sources for the infections of the uterus. In comparison with the controls the frequency of endometritis was twice in the group with claw-problems. Similar differences existed in the involution-time of the uterus or its atonia, acyclia and the development of ovarian cysts (p less than 0.01). The Index of insemination was elevated by about 65%.

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The paper presents the results of observations on the effect of temperature alterations between 9 degrees C and 30 degrees C every 6 and 12 hours, respectively, on the embryonic development and egg hatch of Argas (A.) reflexus. No effect of the frequency of temperature changes on the percentage of egg mortality, embryo mortality, abnormal egg hatching, or egg hatching into morphologically normal larvae was observed. The experiments showed that in changes temperature have a particularly detrimental effect on the eggs prior to blastulation.

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In the years 1987-88 the density of the population of I. ricinus on the territory of Kraków-Czestochowa Highland including the Ojców National Park was studied. The method of collection of ticks from 100 m2 fields was applied. On the spite of similar ecological conditions there was marked variation in the population density of I. ricinus. It decreased from East to West, where territories are under the strong pressure of the Upper Silesia and Olkusz industry.

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