The document discusses soft ticks, which are a type of tick that lack the hard shield on their backs that hard ticks have. Soft ticks have a leathery appearance and can feed and complete a blood meal very quickly, in under an hour. They are also capable of surviving for long periods without feeding, from months to years. The document provides details on the characteristics, habitats, diseases transmitted, life cycle, feeding behavior and control methods for soft ticks.

1. GROUP 9
 JAMES MAPFUMO R234564E AGRONOMY
 JESSIE MAKONESE R235843A AGRONOMY
 TADIWANASHE MAHACHI R239698X AGRONOMY
 KELLLY CHIMBETETE R235709E AGRONOMY
 MUNASHE P MUTEDE R236956Q AGRONOMY
 CHARMINE CHIMBGA R231239W AGRONOMY
 BONTLE SIBANDA R2310000F HAWS

2. SOFT TICKS
SOFT TICKS ARE A TYPE OF TICK BELONGING TO THE FAMILY ARGASIDAE.
UNLIKE HARD TICKS, WHICH HAVE A HARD SHIELD ON THEIR BACK, SOFT
TICKS LACK THIS SHIELD AND HAVE A MORE LEATHERY APPEARANCE. SOFT
TICKS ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR ABILITY TO FEED QUICKLY, OFTEN
COMPLETING A BLOOD MEAL IN LESS THAN AN HOUR. THEY ARE ALSO
CAPABLE OF SURVIVING LONG PERIODS WITHOUT FEEDING, WHICH CAN
RANGE FROM SEVERAL MONTHS TO EVEN YEARS.

3. CHARACTERISTICS OF SOFT TICKS
 Soft ticks have a leathery or wrinkled appearance compared to hard ticks.
 They lack the hard shield or scutum that hard ticks possess.
 Soft ticks feed quickly, often completing a blood meal in a short period.
 These ticks can survive long periods without feeding

4. Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): The CDC is a leading
national public health institute in the United States that provides valuable
information on various health topics, including tick-borne diseases and
prevention strategies.
 World Health Organization (WHO): The WHO is a specialized agency of the
United Nations responsible for international public health. It offers
comprehensive resources on vector-borne diseases, including those
transmitted by ticks.
 Journal of Medical Entomology: This scientific journal publishes research
articles on medical entomology, including studies on tick species, their
biology, behavior, and role in disease transmission. It is a reputable source
for in-depth information on soft ticks and related topics

5. HABIT AND BEHAVIOUR
 Soft ticks are commonly found in bird nests and bat
roosts, as they prefer to feed on birds and bats. They
are also known to infest mammalian hosts, including
humans, by hiding in cracks and crevices near their
resting places. Soft ticks are nocturnal feeders and
typically emerge at night to feed on their hosts. They
can transmit various diseases to both animals and
humans through their bites.

6. Diseases Transmitted by Soft Ticks:
 Soft ticks are vectors for several diseases, including:
 Tick-borne relapsing fever
 African swine fever
 Q fever
 Colorado tick fever
 Soft ticks are capable of transmitting these diseases when they feed on a host
and regurgitate infected saliva into the wound. Proper prevention measures,
such as avoiding areas where soft ticks are prevalent and using insect repellent,
can help reduce the risk of contracting tick-borne illnesses.

7. TYPES OF SOFT TICKS
 Ornithodoros Ticks
 Scientific Name: Ornithodoros spp.
 Common Names: Bird Ticks, Soft Ticks
 Diseases: They can transmit diseases like tick-borne
relapsing fever, Q fever, and tularemia.
 Commonly Found: In various habitats, including caves, rodent
burrows, and bird nests

8. Ornithodoros Ticks

9. Argas Ticks
 Scientific Name: Argas spp.
 Common Names: Soft Ticks, Bird Ticks, Shield Ticks
 Diseases: They can transmit diseases like tick-borne
relapsing fever and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.
 Commonly Found: In warm climates, they are found in bird
nests, bat roosts, and rodent burrows.

10. Argas Ticks

11. Omithodoros Turkestanicus
 Scientific Name: Ornithodoros turkestanicus
 Common Names: Turkestan tick, Caspian tick
 Diseases: They can transmit tick-borne relapsing fever.
 Commonly Found: In Central Asia, the Middle East, and
parts of Europe.

12. Omithodoros Turkestanicus

13. LIFE CYLE OF SOFT TICK

14. FEEDING
 Well, soft ticks are blood-sucking parasites, so they
feed on the blood of other animals. They're nocturnal
feeders, which means they're active at night. During
the day, they hide in their sheltered habitats, waiting
for a host to come along. When an animal comes near,
the soft tick crawls onto it and starts feeding. They
have special mouthparts that allow them to pierce the
animal's skin and suck up their blood.

15. CONTROL
 CONTROL OF SOFT TICKS INVOLVES REDUCING OR
ELIMINATING THEIR HABITAT IN AND AROUND DWELLINGS,
BIRD NEST AND ANIMAL BURROWS.
 CHEMICAL CONTROL METHODS MAY ALSO BE USED IN
INFESTED AREAS
 BOTH LINDANE AND TOXAPHENE ARE USED IN MANY AREAS PF
THE WORLD TO CONTROL SOFT TICKS.
 BECAUSERESISTANCE TO ARSENICALS AND CHLORINATED
HYDROCARBONS HAS DEVELOPED IN MANY SPECIES OF
TICKS,THE ONLY AVAILABLE ACARICIDE IN CERTAIN AREAS OF
THE WORLD ARE ORGANOPHOSPHOROUS COMPOUNDS