THE DEVELOPMENT OF IXODES-RICINUS (LINNE, 1758) IN FRENCH FORESTS - THE ROE-DEER, CAPREOLUS-CAPREOLUS (L, 1758) USED AS A BIOLOGICAL MARKER

The roe-deer is a wild animal for which Ixodes ricinus has a particula r fondness. Its territory is similar to that of the ticks and it is a species which is found throughout France yet which rarely leaves its t erritory. Given these conditions, a systematic parasitological examina tion of the ungulate can provide pertinent information concerning the forests inhabited by the tick. Since it is difficult to conduct a thor ough examination of a large number of roe-deers over a limited space o f time and on a large territory, the best solution is to examine the h ind feet (ungues and tarsus) of the animal which are widely covered by th preimaginal stages of the tick. This biological material is easily available to the extent that the measurements of the animals are ofte n used for game management. A preliminary study was conducted in Dordo gne (southwestern France). Out of the 1 37 pairs of feet examined more than 50 % carried the tick species (larvae or nymphs). The critical a nalysis of the results obtained throughout the investigation enables u s to be more specific about the conditions of application of the advoc ated method.