Ixodid ticks: danger to humans and pets

Ixodid ticks are a blood-sucking parasite that can live in different climatic conditions and at the same time very successfully find a "host". These small creatures are very dangerous - they are the custodians and carriers of the causative agents of many diseases, both animals and humans.

Description

In the photo you can see that the adult ixodid tick has a flattened body covered with grooves, the integument is not segmented. In the process of bloodsucking, the chitinous cover is stretched, the body significantly increases in size and its color changes: the size of the body of a hungry tick is from 1 to 7 mm and the color is light yellow, brown or black, after saturation, the size can exceed 25 mm, and the body acquires a lead gray tint. Sometimes the enamel color of the pigment is observed.

The body of the ixodid tick is divided into a proboscis, which carries the oral parts, and a trunk with eight limbs. The limbs are walking, each is divided into six movable segments, the last of which is represented by a foot with two claws and a suction cup. Well developed. The proboscis can have a different length; the proboscis is considered long, the length of which is greater than the width, the short, respectively, the width is greater than the length.

On a note! Depending on the size of the proboscis, ixodid ticks are divided into long and short proboscis!

Egg

The size of the egg is insignificant - about 0.5-1 mm. It has a light yellow or brownish color, a pearl tint is possible.

Larva

The larva of the ixodid tick is deprived of one pair of walking limbs and the genital opening. The back shield does not cover the whole body, but only its front part. Being at the larval stage of development, parasites are already able to feed. The hungry larva is translucent with a brown or yellow color, after saturation the shade becomes lead gray.

Nymph

The body structure of the nymph is close to the body structure of an adult. They already have four pairs of walking limbs, but still there is no genital opening. Enamel shade of the integument is not observed.

Species and distribution

Modern science knows more than 650 species of ixodid ticks, which belong to 19 different genera. Of these, in Russia you can meet representatives of 70 species from 7 genera. As parasites of terrestrial vertebrates, these arthropods often choose an animal as a potential host, but many kinds able to attack a person.

In the process of evolution, ixodid ticks have learned to adapt to a wide variety of living conditions, due to which they have become extremely widespread. They can be found on almost all continents, with the exception of only Antarctica. The greatest diversity of species and the most numerous colonies live in the tropics and subtropics. But at the same time, the range will always be closely related to species affiliation - for example, some ticks perfectly exist in the steppe zone, others in deserts and semi-deserts, still others in forest shrubbery areas, and others live quietly in the mountains.And in each particular zone, parasites always live in certain conditions that will be suitable for the reproduction, development and existence of a particular species.

On a note! For this reason, ixodid ticks on pastures are distributed by foci - biotopes!

Life cycle

Mating ixodid ticks often occurs on the body of the carrier, in the external environment is extremely rare, after which the male dies. Upon completion of the saturation process, the fertilized female falls off the host's body and hides under plant debris or crawls into cracks in the soil. In the shelter for one to two months, she performs egg laying. The number of eggs laid at one time will depend on the species and the portion of sucked blood. Throughout her life, one female is able to lay about 15,000-20000 eggs.

On a note! If the fertilized female remains hungry, then she will not be able to lay eggs!

1. The development cycle of the ixodid tick begins in the egg. The duration of this phase is from 2 to 10 weeks, which is affected by environmental conditions. Eggs are very sensitive to changes in humidity and air temperature - when the humidity drops to 65%, the embryo dies. If the eggs are in water, embryonic development will slow down and resume again when removed from this medium.
2. Further, larvae emerge from the eggs, the development of which also largely depends on environmental conditions. At this stage of development, ixodid ticks can last from 1 to 4 weeks. The larvae spend from 2 to 5 days on bloodsucking and this process is required to move to the next phase. But even in the absence of a constant source of food, they are able to live for a rather long period of time: from a couple of months to one or two years.
3. Development in the nymph phase can last from 1 to 5 weeks. Food at this stage takes a slightly longer period of time and ranges from 3 to 8 days.
4. The cycle ends with the stage of imago.

Biology features

Ixodid ticks are for the most part lurking blood-sucking parasites, which are divided into pasture and burrow. The first wait for the potential host in the open, settling on the grass or on the leaves of the bush, from where they then attack. The fall of these bloodsuckers occurs in the same conditions. Burrowing mites prefer to “hunt” in shelters, and the degree of their attachment to burrows will depend on the species.

Ixodid ticks, depending on the characteristics of the life cycle, are divided into groups:

• Representatives of the species, which are characterized by a single-host life cycle, feed on the body of their carrier, while experiencing three phases of their development: larval, nymphs and imago. In this case, a saturated adult individual leaves the body of the host, which leaves to complete egg laying.
• Ticks with a two-host cycle are characterized by feeding at the larval and nymph stages; the latter disappears at the end of its phase. The host may be one species or close to it.
• Ixodid ticks of animals with a three-host life cycle stay on the host’s body exclusively during the period of bloodsucking. In this case, burrow parasites choose only one species for feeding, and pasture ones - different species: larvae and nymphs parasitize mainly to small mammals or reptiles, and adult individuals attack already larger animals.

Malware

Ixodid ticks feed exclusively on blood and can parasitize on humans, as well as on wild and domestic animals. The danger from contact with them is that they are able to tolerate many pathogens of fairly serious diseases.

On a note! While committing bite infected ixodid tick Together with salivary secretion, it passes on to its owner a virus that will certainly enter the bloodstream!

Danger to humans

On the territory of the Russian Federation, two species of ixodid ticks are found, which are carriers of pathogens of tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease. In this case, the danger is represented by ticks of the genus Ixodes: Ricinus (canine) and Persulcatus (taiga).

Also, an ixodic tick is capable of provoking the development of diseases such as:

• relapsing fever;
• typhus;
• tularemia;
• paroxysmal rickettsiosis;
• hemorrhagic fever;
• Marseille fever;
• fever Ku.

In this case, the virus is able to penetrate the body even when crushing an infected tick. For this reason, trying to destroy an adult with bare hands is highly discouraged. But here you should know that not always a bite of an ixodid tick will turn into a disease. People with high levels of interferon who have been vaccinated are excluded from the risk group.

Danger to animals

Dogs have ixodid ticks can provoke the development of serious diseases such as pyroplasmosis, helminthiasis, as well as various bacterial infections. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the dog does not feel the bite itself, and therefore it is not possible to correct the situation immediately, until it is aggravated. The only symptom may be an allergic reaction. If the animal does not have such a tendency, then, most likely, the bloodsucker will go unnoticed. And the further it goes deeper into the skin, the larger its size becomes and the more rapidly the risk of infection increases.

In cats, ixodid ticks are also not uncommon and, unfortunately, can cause considerable harm to their health. And if the dog does not feel the bite of the parasite and does not react to it in any way, then the cat, on the contrary, begins to itch actively. This is due to the fact that the secret secreted by the bloodsucker provokes itching in the animal. And in this case, it is carding that is dangerous, since in the process a cat can simply tear off the body of the tick, leaving its head in the skin. And this is fraught with the development of suppuration, sometimes sepsis.

Methods of struggle

To combat ixodid ticks, it is customary to use pesticides and insecticides. These funds may have a different operating principle and form of release.

Acaricides

Repellents are usually used to repel parasites. They are applied to outerwear to avoid contact with a bloodsucker during a walk or outdoor recreation. The duration of such drugs can be several days. Among the popular acaricides:

• "Biban" - based on diethyltoluamide. The drug can be applied to the body, clothes, curtains and mosquito nets. When using, care should be taken and avoid getting the product on the mucous membranes and inside.
• "Gardex" - the active substance exhibits a paralyzing effect and for this, a tick is enough to contact with treated clothing. This product is not applied to exposed skin. The Gardeks aerosol has been working for a long time and provides protection against bloodsuckers for two weeks.
• "Tsifoks" - this product is available in the form of an emulsion based on cypermethrin. It shows high efficiency in the destruction of bloodsucking individuals. Does not show a scaring effect. When applied to clothing, it provides protection for two weeks, in the house for 2-3 months.

Industrial animal welfare products

The fight against ixodid ticks in animals is carried out using means with contact activity. These include:

• “Bars” - drops at the withers, spray;
• "Butox" - an emulsifying concentrate, the processing of which can be done when bathing the animal and spraying;
• "Neostomozan" - is used in breeding for bathing, wetting or spraying animals;
• "Dana" spray and drops at the withers;
• Demos-Lux is a zoo shampoo, and it is possible to use it not only for adult animals, but also for kittens and puppies.

In general, in order to avoid the troubles associated with the attack of ixodid ticks, it is necessary to carry out simple prevention.First of all, it is associated with the use of repellents, which will scare away bloodsuckers during walks in the fresh air. If you live in a private house or spend the summer on a country site, then take care of the timely cleaning of the territory from excess vegetation and dead wood. Plus, it is advisable to regularly inspect the body of your pet, ideally after each visit to the street. If the tick was found, then it should be removed very carefully so as not to leave your head under the skin. In case of deterioration of the animal’s health, it should be immediately taken to a veterinary clinic.