V3 First detection and a new avian host of the tick Ixodes ventalloi Gil Collado, 1936, in Slovakia. Katarína Loziaková Peňazziová, Lidia Chitimia-Dobler, Tomáš Csank, Branislav Peťko, Anna Ondrejková, Miloš Halán, Petra Schusterová, Soňa Pivka & Ľuboš Korytár. Parasitology Research 2024, 123, 268. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-024-08286-y

Basic data
OCA1. Surname awarded to the assessed person	Korytár
OCA2. Name awarded to the assessed person	Ľuboš
OCA3. Degrees awarded to the assessed person	Assoc. prof. , DVM, PhD
OCA4. Hyperlink to the entry of the person in the Register of university staff	https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/20446
OCA5. Area of assessment	study programme animal science · I. degree
OCA6. Category of the research/artistic/other output	scientific output
OCA7. Year of publication of the research/artistic/other output	2024
OCA8. ID of the record in the Central Registry of Publication Activity (CRPA) or the Central Registry of Artistic Activity (CRAA)	1196047
OCA9. Hyperlink to the record in CRPA or CRAA	https://app.crepc.sk/?fn=detailBiblioForm&sid=2EA293C8B5A34C456E3D98942649
Characteristics of the output that is not registered in CRPA or CRAA
OCA10. Hyperlink to the record in another publicly accessible register, catalogue of research/ artistic/other outputs	https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85198063488&origin=resultslist&sort=plf-f&src=s&st1=Koryt%c3%a1r&st2=%c4%bdubo%c5%a1&nlo=1&nlr=20&nls=count-f&sid=dcabf5b8409db07895d31615a4c06279&sot=anl&sdt=aut&sl=35&s=AU-ID%28%22Koryt%c3%a1r%2c+%c4%bdubo%c5%a1%22+36898778000%29&relpos=0&citeCnt=0&searchTerm=
OCA11. Characteristics of the output in the format of the CRPA or the CRAA bibliographic record, if the output is not available in a publicly accessible register or catalogue of outputs	V3 First detection and a new avian host of the tick Ixodes ventalloi Gil Collado, 1936, in Slovakia. Katarína Loziaková Peňazziová, Lidia Chitimia-Dobler, Tomáš Csank, Branislav Peťko, Anna Ondrejková, Miloš Halán, Petra Schusterová, Soňa Pivka & Ľuboš Korytár. Parasitology Research 2024, 123, 268. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-024-08286-y
OCA12. Type of the output (if the output is not registered in CRPA or CRAA)	article
OCA13. Hyperlink to the webpage where the output is available (full text, other documentation, etc.)	https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00436-024-08286-y
OCA14. Characteristics of the author's contribution	Field work - bird trapping and collecting of ticks, writing original, manuscript, writing review and editing, investigation, data analysis, correspondent author.
OCA15. Annotation of the output with contextual information concerning the description of creative process and the content of the research/artistic/other activity, etc.	This study describes the first detection of Ixodes ventalloi in Slovakia. Two engorged females of I. ventalloi were collected from Dunnocks (Prunella modularis) captured in eastern Slovakia. The identification of females was based on morphological and molecular 16S rRNA gene features. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a classification of the females into distinct genogroups. Moreover, comparative morphological analysis highlighted variations between the two females, particularly in the curvature of the auriculae, the shape of coxa I, and the internal spur. These findings suggest the potential for varied phenotypes of I. ventalloi correlated with their genogroups. Nonetheless, I. ventalloi population establishment within Slovakia necessitates further investigation through flagging or drag sampling.
Other data
OCA16. Annotation of the output in English	This study describes the first detection of Ixodes ventalloi in Slovakia. Two engorged females of I. ventalloi were collected from Dunnocks (Prunella modularis) captured in eastern Slovakia. The identification of females was based on morphological and molecular 16S rRNA gene features. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a classification of the females into distinct genogroups. Moreover, comparative morphological analysis highlighted variations between the two females, particularly in the curvature of the auriculae, the shape of coxa I, and the internal spur. These findings suggest the potential for varied phenotypes of I. ventalloi correlated with their genogroups. Nonetheless, I. ventalloi population establishment within Slovakia necessitates further investigation through flagging or drag sampling.
OCA17. List of maximum 5 most significant citations corresponding to the output
OCA18. Characteristics of the output's impact on socio-economic practice	We report here the first detection of Ixodes ventalloi in Slovakia and its first collection on Dunnocks (P. modularis), expanding the known host range and geographical distribution of this tick species. Genetic analyses reveal that Slovak I. ventalloi specimens belong to different genogroups, suggesting complex evolutionary dynamics similar to patterns seen in other tick species. Traditionally considered a “rabbit tick,” the increasing evidence of I. ventalloi’s association with avian hosts underscores its ecological adaptability. Our results also highlight the role of birds in the dissemination of I. ventalloi populations from their endemic regions. Furthermore, this study indicates morphological diversity among I. ventalloi females, challenging previous assumptions of uniform phenotypes and suggesting the presence of distinct morphotypes. These findings support the integration of molecular techniques with traditional morphological identification methods to ensure accurate species identification. Further research is needed regarding the establishment of I. ventalloi populations in Slovakia.
OCA19. Characteristics of the output and related activities' impact on the educational process	The publication documents for the first time the presence of a non-native tick on the territory of the Slovak Republic, including the description of a new avian host. It is a suitable material for teaching courses on epizootology and veterinary parasitology.