The sudden heat of these days, in addition to catching us unprepared, has had another consequence that should not be underestimated: the proliferation of ticks. Already in April the ECDC (European Agency for Disease Prevention and Control) had published data on the spread of this parasite in Europe, reporting the expansion and growth throughout the EU space, mainly caused by climate change.
900 specie
There are about 900 known species in the world and in our country the most common are theIxodes ricinusor wood tick, vector of Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis, and the Rhipicephalus sanguineusor dog tick, which can cause various diseases and spread different pathogens to animals and humans.
A few days ago a massive presence of ticks and fleas was reported in Roman public parks, but for now the greatest spread seems to be in Northern Italy, in particular in Veneto: more than thirty cases of removal of the parasites in less than a week.
Ticks are anthropods of the order of Ixodids, included in the class of Arachnids, which also include mites, spiders and scorpions and feed on blood. In Italy there are 36 known species. They are very small animals, from a few millimeters to a centimeter, with a rounded shape and a mouth apparatus, the rostrum, through which they suck blood, which is almost indistinguishable from the rest of the body when it comes to soft ticks (Argasidae). Hard ticks, (Ixodidae), equipped with a rigid dorsal shield, they have a much more visible rostrum, anatomically suitable for longer meals. Once the host has been found to “eat”, in fact, the soft ticks make lunches that can last hours, the hard ticks can last them for weeks.
Active in summer
During the winter they generally live hidden, sheltered, under the stones, in the cracks in the walls, especially in animal shelters and then return to activity in the summer. Obviously, the climate change of recent years is also affecting their business. In spring-summer they prefer places rich in vegetation, pastures and woods, and full of animals, such as shelters and stables.
They are very sensitive to the carbon dioxide emitted by the body so when they sense the presence of a person or an animal they move to the highest part of the bushes, grass or plants and cling to the passenger as they pass, sticking the rostrum into the skin and starting to suck blood. Furthermore, in their saliva there is an almost anesthetic substance that does not make the victim feel the bite. They usually stay on the host for 2 to 7 days, then go away.
The Istituto Superiore di Sanità reports the most common infectious pathologies in Italy carried by ticks, starting withtick-borne encephalitis, very subtle because it starts with a high fever, headache, fatigue, pain in the muscles and joints, and then suddenly passes and recurs (not always) after about 10-20 days with central nervous system disorders (encephalitis, paralysis ). Dogs can also be affected by this infection and exhibit symptoms such as high fever, seizures, neurological deficits and paresis. If the infection occurs in a serious way, unfortunately there is no way to cure it and it can lead to the death of our four-legged friend.
Then there is the Lyme diseasewhich has also tormented famous people, including Justin Bieber, Avril Lavigne, Richard Gere. It is not easily diagnosed because symptoms changing and alternating phases, but a small red spot (erythema migrans) appears at the point of the bite and slowly expands. The infection can affect the nervous system, skin, internal organs and if left untreated it becomes chronic. Also in the dog it can manifest itself with a skin rash followed by symptoms such as fatigue, lameness, asthenia. It must be taken in time to be treated properly. There is also a vaccine but the most effective weapon remains prevention.
Le rickettsiosi they belong to the group of exanthematous fevers and are caused by rickettsiae, bacteria transmitted by hard ticks. It has an incubation period of five to seven days and suddenly comes on with flu-like symptoms, but then rashes appear on the ankles, wrists, hands and soles of the feet. As for dogs, the symptoms are very similar: fever, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea. If caught early, it can be treated with antibiotics.
Recurrent tick fever it occurs after an incubation period ranging from five to fifteen days with fever, flu symptoms, alternating with days without anything. It is usually treated with antibiotics. Also erlichiosis has an incubation period ranging from one week to twenty days and has flu symptoms. There may also be manifestations such as measles in children. It is easily treated, only elderly people can have vascular and renal complications. In our animal friends, dogs and cats, it has an acute first phase with more or less evident symptoms, such as fever or loss of appetite. Then everything could go away but the disease continues to progress and can develop even when clinical deadly.
Ticks attached to the body, whether of humans or other animals, must be removed immediately. To do this the best thing is to use tweezers with which the body of the parasite is grasped and with a slight anticlockwise rotation movement it is extracted. Disinfect the sting site immediately and monitor it for the following days.
Prevention
Prevention is essential to decrease the chance of being bitten by ticks. The suggestions are the basic ones: try to avoid walking in the fields with tall grass, wear pants and shirts that cover the body as much as possible and closed shoes when going to the countryside and mountains. It could be useful to put a hat, especially for children and avoid lying on the ground, on the lawn. We also recommend light-colored clothes to better identify the presence of animals on you, make a careful check when you get home on the clothes, on your body and on that of the pet animal. For the latter, the use of parasiticides is essential, in consultation with the veterinarian. But be careful, now the ticks are active almost all year round and are also expanding the range of action. So, always keep your eyes peeled for these dangerous parasites.