| Carios vespertilionis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Ixodida |
| Family: | Argasidae |
| Genus: | Carios |
| Species: | C. vespertilionis |
| Binomial name | |
| Carios vespertilionis Latreille, 1796 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Carios vespertilionis, also known as the short-legged bat tick, is an argasid tick parasite of bats. [1] It is a widely-distributed species, found widely in Europe, Africa and Asia. [2] [3]
The species is usually host-specific to bats, especially Pipistrelles species, and is known to parasitise bats in all different types of transient colonies and roost types. [4] However, it is a 'highly aggressive' parasite known to also readily bite domestic animals and humans. [5] Studies in Sweden, Pakistan and the United Kingdom have identified that the species carries and can transmit human-pathogenic Borrelia bacteria in the relapsing fever group. [3] [6] [7] They are also vectors of Babesia , Rickettsia and Ehrlichia bacteria species. [7]
