title: Fennoscandian distribution of an important parasite of cervids, the deer ked (Lipoptena cervi), revisited.
abstract: 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 ( approximately 50 years) and Norway ( approximately 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 degrees N and 62 degrees N, whereas the eastern population in Finland reaches 65 degrees 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland. panu.valimaki@oulu.fi
authors.forename: Panu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Välimäki
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Madslien
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malmsten
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Härkönen
authors.forename: Sauli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Härkönen
authors.forename: Arja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaitala
authors.forename: Raine
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kortet
authors.forename: Sauli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laaksonen
authors.forename: Reidar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mehl
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Redford
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ylönen
authors.forename: Bjørnar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ytrehus
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004175:Diptera / Q000254:growth & development*; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005843:Geography; D012418:Ruminants / Q000469:parasitology*; D012537:Scandinavian and Nordic Countries / Q000453:epidemiology