Not all ticks are the same
In Poland, ticks search most intensively for a host in spring and autumn. The increase in interest in ticks (Ixodida) noted especially in recent decades is primarily related to the ability of these mites to transmit numerous pathogens. It is not without reason that ticks are considered one of the most important carriers of viruses, bacteria and parasites. The biology and ecology of ticks, as well as the pathogens they transmit and the diseases associated with them, are the subject of numerous studies, discussions and questions.
Tick-borne diseases are a growing epidemiological and clinical problem worldwide and in Poland.
Prof. Dorota Kiewra, head of the Department of Microbial Ecology and Akaroentomology at the UWr Faculty of Biological Sciences: – Undoubtedly, an increase in the incidence of tick-borne diseases has been recorded in recent decades worldwide, including Poland. This trend is attributed not only to climatic and land-cover changes affecting the spread of ticks and their hosts, but also to socio-economic changes, greater awareness of tick-borne diseases and improved laboratory diagnostics. In Poland, Lyme borreliosis, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is one of the most commonly reported tick-borne diseases. According to the National Institute of Public Health of the National Institute of Hygiene – National Research Institute, the number of cases of Lyme borreliosis in Poland has increased in the last decade alone, from less than 14,000 in 2014 to more than 25,000 in 2023.
Have new species appeared in Lower Silesia?
– Currently, the tick fauna of Lower Silesia includes 11 species of ticks, including two representatives of the so-called soft ticks (ticks) and 9 proper ticks, two of which have only been recorded for the last several years. The presence of the meadow tick Dermacentor reticulatus in Lower Silesia was recorded for the first time in 2009. Monitoring studies conducted by employees of the Department of Microbial Ecology and Akaroentomology at the UWr Faculty of Biological Sciences indicate that this species is steadily expanding its range of occurrence. On the other hand, the presence of the tick Haemaphysalis concinna was found for the first time in Lower Silesia in 2018 by identifying several sites of its occurrence. To date, the presence of African ticks of the genus Hyalomma has not been confirmed in Lower Silesia.
Are all ticks dangerous?
Approximately 900 species are recorded worldwide, of which around 10 per cent are considered of particular medical and veterinary importance. Thus, not all tick species are equally threatening to humans and animals.
What does it depend on?
The medical and veterinary importance of ticks arises not only from their ability to cause direct skin reactions and systemic inflammatory reactions in humans and animals, but above all from their ability to transmit pathogens. The level of tick infection with pathogens varies and depends on the type of pathogen and geographical location, and can be variable from year to year in a given area.
In Poland, the most dangerous is…
– … the common tick Ixodes ricinus – the most commonly recorded tick parasitising humans. This species can parasitise domestic and wild animals, including reptiles, birds and mammals, as well as humans. Its presence is recorded in all provinces throughout the country, both in forested and urbanised areas. The medical and veterinary importance of the common tick is primarily due to its ability to transmit numerous tick-borne disease pathogens, including Lyme spirochetes and tick-borne encephalitis virus.
How to avoid contracting tick-borne diseases?
Avoiding contracting the disease requires both awareness of the risk and the use of appropriate precautions, especially during the period of peak tick activity (in the case of the common tick during spring and early summer and autumn) in areas where ticks are particularly active. Protection against tick-borne diseases mainly involves individual prophylaxis. In Poland, as in other European countries, protective vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis is available, but no vaccination against Lyme disease is currently available.
What to avoid, what to do, how to dress to minimise tick contact?
It is certainly worth avoiding areas where ticks are particularly abundant, such as scrub, areas covered with tall grass and animal tracks. However, it is worth bearing in mind that ticks can be found wherever there is sufficient moisture and hosts are available. In order to reduce the risk of contact with ticks in the immediate area, treatments such as cutting the grass, removing leaves and keeping open, sunny areas can be used to help create an environment less conducive to tick development.
When in tick-infested areas, make sure to wear appropriate clothing (light-coloured clothing with long sleeves and legs and full footwear is recommended). It is also advisable to use tick repellents. When you return home, inspect your body for ticks as soon as possible. It is also advisable to take a shower. If a tick is found, it should be removed as soon as possible to reduce the risk of transmitting pathogens. The parasitic tick should be grasped with tweezers or available special tick remover tools (available from the pharmacy) close to the skin and pulled out with a decisive movement, after which the feeding area should be disinfected.
What is not allowed?
The tick should not be smeared with cream or other grease, burned or crushed, as this increases the likelihood of transmission of pathogens.
Are humans more vulnerable than animals?
Both humans and animals are at risk of tick attacks, but the differences in risk depend on several factors. Animals, especially those that spend a lot of time outdoors, such as dogs and cats, tend to be more vulnerable to tick attacks. This is due to their frequent contact with grass, bushes and other places where ticks are active. In addition, pets’ fur provides a convenient cover where ticks can easily hide and attach themselves. Pets can also be effectively protected against tick attacks. There are many methods of protection, which include the use of special tick collars, spot-on preparations, oral tablets, as well as regular examinations and checks of the pet’s coat after returning from walks.
Can you be infected from an infected animal?
Acquisition of tick-borne disease pathogens is primarily related to parasitisation by infected ticks, but other routes of transmission are also possible. In the case of tick-borne encephalitis viruses, the possibility of infection via the oral route through consumption of raw, unpasteurised milk from infected animals such as cows, goats or sheep deserves particular attention.
Under what conditions and when are ticks most active?
Ticks are characterised by varied activity, not only seasonal, but also diurnal, as their activity, understood as the period of time when they are searching for a host, is strongly linked to the ambient temperature and humidity, as well as the length of day.
Waiting on vegetation for a host particularly exposes the tick to moisture loss, so ticks in high temperatures with low humidity tend to stop climbing vegetation and seek shelter inforest litter.
In Poland, ticks most intensively hunt for their host in spring and autumn. The activity of the common tick usually begins in March-April and lasts until the turn of October-November, with the greatest activity usually recorded in May-June and September-October.
At the same time, it is worth noting that other tick species may be characterised by different activity. For example, the meadow tick Dermacentor reticulatus, which rarely attacks humans but is quite often collected from dogs, usually starts its activity earlier than the common tick, with the maximum spring activity usually occurring in April and the autumn peak from mid-August to mid-November.
Complied by Katarzyna Górowicz-Maćkiewicz
On 26 August 2024, an interdisciplinary conference bringing together specialists in parasitology begins at the University of Wrocław. The conference combines numerous aspects of human and veterinary medicine, biology, ecology and many other related fields. https://emop2024wroclaw.eu/programme/
