Fennoscandian distribution of an important parasite of cervids, the deer ked (Lipoptena cervi), revisited

• Published in: Parasitology research (1987) 2010-06, Vol.107 (1), p.117-125
• Main Authors: Välimäki, Panu, Madslien, Knut, Malmsten, Jonas, Härkönen, Laura, Härkönen, Sauli, Kaitala, Arja, Kortet, Raine, Laaksonen, Sauli, Mehl, Reidar, Redford, Lisa, Ylönen, Hannu, Ytrehus, Bjørnar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cervidae; Diptera - growth & development; Ectoparasitic Infestations - epidemiology; Ectoparasitic Infestations - parasitology; Ectoparasitic Infestations - veterinary; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; General aspects and techniques. Study of several systematic groups. Models; Geography; Hippoboscidae; Immunology; Invertebrates; Lipoptena cervi; Medical Microbiology; Microbiology; Original Paper; Ruminants - parasitology; Scandinavian and Nordic Countries - epidemiology
• ISSN: 0932-0113; 1432-1955
• DOI: 10.1007/s00436-010-1845-7

The deer ked [Lipoptena cervi (L. 1758) (Dipt., Hippoboscidae)] is a blood-sucking ectoparasite of cervids. The species has been resident in Sweden for more than two centuries, whereas in Finland (≈50 years) and Norway (≈30 years), it has established itself relatively recently. L. cervi may cause serious health problems in its natural hosts, act as a vector for zoonotic diseases, and pose a socioeconomic threat to forest-based activity. In this paper, we review the distribution and former expansion of the species in Fennoscandia. The current distribution of L. cervi appears bimodal, and the geographical range expansion of the species shows notable differences across Fennoscandia. The western population in Norway and Sweden has its northern edge of range at respective latitudes of 61° N and 62° N, whereas the eastern population in Finland reaches 65° N. The future expansion of L. cervi is dependent on several interdependent extrinsic and intrinsic factors. International multidisciplinary collaboration is needed to achieve a synthesis on the factors affecting expansion rates and to understand the effects of L. cervi on wildlife, human health, and the rural societies of Fennoscandia.