Tick-borne parasitic infections are caused by protozoan parasites transmitted through tick bites. The most common infections are babesiosis caused by Babesia parasites and theileriosis caused by Theileria species. These infections affect both animals and humans, causing symptoms ranging from fever and fatigue to enlarged lymph nodes. Diagnosis involves identifying the parasites in blood smears or tissue samples. Treatment consists of anti-parasitic drugs. Prevention strategies focus on controlling tick populations and avoiding tick bites through environmental and personal protective measures.

1. TICK-BORNE PARASITIC
INFECTIONS
BY
UWAMOSE,
Martin Nelson Osaigbokan
AUGUST , 2014

2. Tick-borne parasitic infections occurs throughout the world, with
approximately 5,000 to 12,000 reported cases per year in Europe.
The vector, tick which is a small arachnid belongs to the order
Parasitiforms.
It is blood sucking ectoparasite that can not survive and move from
one stage to another without a blood meal. It is thus described an
obligate parasite and are therefore an excellent vector for disease
transmission.
There are two well known parasitic infections that are tick-borne,
they are: Babesiosis, caused by the protozoan parasites of the genus
Babesia and Theileriosis, caused by Theileria species.
These parasitic infections are known to infect animals such as cattle,
causing milk reduction and growth decrease and also humans.

3. Risks of tick-borne infection is not uniform
throughout the world. It occurs in tropical and
subtropical areas of the world. They are also
prevalent in many temperate areas such as
northern Europe and France. The highest risk is
in Europe where there are about 5,000 to 12,000
cases each year (L’ Hostis and Seegers 2002).

4. Geographical distribution of Ticks
Figure 1: Geographical distribution of ticks
Source: Google images
Hyalomma Ticks vector presence
Serological evidence and vector presence
5000 – 12000 cases reported per year
12000 and more cases reported per year

5. BIOLOGY OF TICKS
 Ticks are small arachnids in the order Parasitiforms.
 Approximately 800 species have been described
worldwide with only two well established family;
Ixodidae (the hard ticks) and Argasidae (the Soft
ticks).
 They are obligate ectoparasites that feeds on the
blood of mammals, birds and reptiles and transmits
wide variety of pathogens.
 They extract the blood of their host by cutting a
hole into the host epidermis and inserting the
hypostome. They keep the host blood from clothing
by excreting an anticoagulant.
 Blood is a major requirement for ticks survival and
moving from one stage of their life to the next.

6. LIFE CYCLE
The two well established of ticks undergo three primary
stages of development: Larval, Nymph and adults.
For Ixodid ticks, it requires three hosts and their life cycle
takes at least one year to complete.
The adult female ticks can lay up to 3,000 eggs on the
ground.
The larvae emerge, feeds on small mammals and birds
after which they detach from their host and molt to nymph
on the ground
The nymph feed on larger hosts and molt to adult
The adult attach to larger hosts, feeds very little and
occupy the host primarily for mating.

7. Figure 2: Larva (A), nymph (B), adult male
(C), adult female (D) and engorged adult
female with eggs (E) of I. scapularis
Source: CDC images
Figure 3: Typical Ixodid tick
Source: Google images

8. Figure 5: Typical life cycle of tick

9. TICK-BORNE PARASITIC DISEASES
There are only two known tick-borne
parasitic diseases of great economic
importance in the world.
Babesiosis
Theileriosis

10. BABESIOSIS

11. Babesiosis
CAUSES:
Babesiosis is caused by parasitic
protozoa of the genus Babesia.
It is transmitted by deer tick,
Ixodes scapularis
Many different species of Babesia
parasites have been found in
animals with only a few found in
people.
SYMPTOMS:
They ranges from fever, chills,
headache, muscle pain, nausea,
cough, sore throat, to rash in 30%
to 40% of adults.
TREATMENT
Treatment is with anti-babesial
drugs, the
combination of atovaquone
and azithromycin, anti-babesiosis
vaccines.
Tick control through insect
repellent.

12. THEILERIOSIS

13. Theileriasis
CAUSES:
Theileriasis is caused by an obligate
intracellular protozoan parasites of the
genus Theileria.
It is transmitted by ticks of the genus
Hyalomma.
The two most pathogenic and
economically important Theileria species
are T. parva and T. annulata.
T. parva occurs in Eastern and Southern
Africa while T. annulata occurs in North
Africa, southern Europe and Asia.
SYMPTOMS:
Theileriosis should be suspected in tick–
infested animals with a fever and enlarged
lymph nodes. Others includes lacrimation,
nasal discharge, and diarrhea.
TREATMENT
Treatment is with
chemotherapeutic agents such as
buparvaquone.
Tick control through insect
repellent can also be used

14. GENERAL DIAGNOSIS
Tick-borne parasitic infections can be diagnosed by
the identification of the causative agent of the
parasites in Giemsa-stained blood smears,
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, Indirect
fluorescent antibody (IFA) test, serology and lymph
node needle biopsy smears especially for Theileria
parasites (WHO 2008).

15. PREVENTION OF TICK-BORNE PARASITIC
INFECTIONS
Prevention strategies for tick-borne diseases can be divided
into 3 general categories: Environmental, Personal, and
Prophylactic (after a tick bite has occurred)
 Environmental strategies involves the control of the
population of deer and other vector and tick control
measures.
 Personal strategies involves avoiding grassy areas with
shrubs that attract ticks, wearing long trousers and
socks, applying permethrin (an insect repellent) to
clothing.
 Prophylactic measures include the use of vaccines.

16. CONCLUSION
Scientist should put in more efforts in the study of the
epidemiology and distribution of tick-borne parasitic
infections as there is a growing population of ticks because
people build homes where tick and their host inhabit.
Awareness should therefore be made to people living such
areas about risk of tick-borne parasitic infections. Parasite
causing agent of the infections should be studied for better
ways of treatment and control strategies.