Ticks are blood-feeding ectoparasites that can transmit diseases to vertebrate hosts like mammals and birds. There are two main tick families - Hard Ticks (Ixodidae) and Soft Ticks (Argasidae). Hard ticks have a complex multi-stage life cycle involving eggs, larvae, nymphs, and adults. They feed on hosts for several days between each life stage. Ticks can transmit diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Common hard tick genera include Ixodes, Haemaphysalis, Dermacentor, Amblyomma, and Boophilus. Each genus contains medically important tick species that transmit pathogens while feeding on different host species.

1. Ticks
Muhammad Usama Umer
2017-VA-108

2. Ticks
• The ticks are obligate, blood-feeding ectoparasites of vertebrates,
particularly mammals and birds
• Ticks are usually larger than mites, ranging in length from 3 to 12
mm, or more in the case of engorged females.
• ticks are important vectors of zoonotic diseases (Lyme disease,
Rocky Mountain spotted fever, etc.),
• Ticks do not possess antennae

3. Families
• Two Families
the Ixodidae (Hard Ticks _ scutum is present) and Argasidae (Soft
Ticks_scutum is absent)
• A third family of tick, the Nuttalliellidae, contains only a single,
little-known species which is found in the nests of swallows in
southern Africa

4. Hard Ticks
Life Cycle
• The life cycles of ixodid ticks involve four instars:
• egg,
• six-legged larva,
• eight-legged nymph
• eight-legged adult
Each female may produce several thousand eggs.

5. questing
• they wait at the tips of vegetation for an appropriate host to
brush past
• Once contact is made the ticks transfer to the host, and then
move over the surface to find their preferred attachment sites,
such as the ears

6. • Eggs are always laid in the environment.
• Blood-feeding typically takes between 4 and 6 days
• Ticks, particularly in the immature stages, are very susceptible to
desiccation,
• To minimise drying out they start questing

7. Types Of Life Cycle
• One Host Tick (Larvae, nymphs and adults on same host )
• Two Host Tick (Larvae & nymph on same host but adult on
different host)
• Three Host Tick (Larvae, nymphs and adults all feed on different
hosts.)

8. Clinical Signs
• Presence of Parasites
• Local Skin infections
• inflamed nodules are also seen

9. Diagnosis
• The adult ticks, particularly the engorged females, are easily seen
on the skin,
• the predilection sites being the face, ears, axilla and inguinal
region.

10. Family Ixodidae
• imoortant vectors of protozoal. bacterial, viral and riikettsial
diseasesIxodid ticks are relatively large
• Ixodid ticks are relatively large (2—20mm)
• the ixodids have a chitinous covering or scutum which extends
over the whole dorsal surface of the male, hut covers only a small
area behind the head in the larva, nymph or female.
• Festoons (A row of notches ) is on posterior boarder of the body
• Ixodidae the anal groove is either absent or is posterior to the
anus

11. • Some ticks have coloured enamel-like areas on the body and these
arc called 'ornate ticks’.
• The adults have a pair of spiracles behind the fourth pair of legs.
• Eyes, when present, are situated on the outside margin of the
Scutum.
• If the scutum has a pattern of grey and white on a dark
background, it is described as ornate, if not it is described as
inornate.
• the anterior gnathosoma (or capitulum) and posterior idiosoma,
which bears the legs.

12. Generas
• Ixodes
• Haema0physalis
• Dermacentor

13. Ixodes
Host
• Mammals and Birds
Species found in Eurupe:,
• Ixudes ricinus castor bean tick
• Ixodes canisuga British dog tick
• Ixodes hexagonus hedgehog tick.
Some other species:
• Ixodes holocyclus the paralysis tick of Auslralia
• Ixodes rubicundus the paralysis tick of South Africa
• Ixorles scupularis (Black-legged Tick) the shoulder tick of North America.

14. Identification
• Inornate ticks
• No eyes
• No festoons
• Palps are Long
• Anal groove is present anterior to the anus

15. I. ricinus
• In I. ricinus, as compared with I. canisuga and I. hexagonus, the
tarsi are tapered and not humped
• The engorged adult female is light grey, up to 1.0 cm in length and
bean shaped
• Adult male Ixodes Ricinus are only 2.0–3.0 mm long,
• the four pairs of legs
• Nymphs resemble the adults but are less than 2.0 mm in length.
• The larvae, often described as ‘seed ticks’ or ‘pepper ticks’, are
less than 1.0 mm in length and usually yellowish in colour

16. Life cycle
• 3 host tick
• 3 years (life cycle)
• Mating takes place on the host.
• the female subsequently feeds for about 14 days and then drops
to the ground to lay several thousand eggs in the soil in sheltered
spots, over a period of about 30 days, after which it dies.
• the larvae, nymphs and adults feed for a total of only 26-28 days.

17. • Unfed larvae can survive for approximately 13–19 months, unfed
nymphs for 24 months and unfed adults for 21–31 months, but the
precise period over which they can survive depends on
temperature and humidity.

18. Importance
• heavy infestations can cause anaemia.
• Also at slaughter the value of the hide or fleece may be reduced.
• Europe, in cattle it transmits Babesia divergens and B. bovis, the causes
of redwater fever and Anaplasma marginale, the cause of anaplasmosis
in cattle
• In sheep and cattle, it transmits the virus that causes louping-ill and the
rickettsia responsible for tick-borne fever.
• tick pyaemia, caused by Staphylococcus aureus
• transmit Borrelia burgdorferi, the spirochaete responsible for Lyme
disease in humans

19. Ixodes Canisuga (Dog Tick)
• Infestation may cause dermatitis, pruritus, alopecia and anaemia,
• Adult females lay relatively small numbers of eggs, probably about
400 eggs.
• It may be a particular problem in packs of dogs in kennels.
• It may be differentiated from I. Ricinus by the presence of
humped tarsi and the absence of a spur on the posterior internal
angle of the first coxa

20. Ixodes Hexagonus (Hedgehog tick)
• The scutum is broadly hexagonal
• It may be diflerentiated from I. ricinus by its humped tarsi and the
fact that the spur on the first coxa does not overlap the second
coxa.
• Adults are red–brown,
• Ixodes hexagonus is a biological vector of Borrelia spp and tick-
borne encephalitis.

21. Haemophysalis
• Inornate ticks
• Festoons absent
• Eyes present
• 3 host ticks
• Sensory palps are short and broad
• Males have no ventral shield
• Short mouth parts
• Rectangular base capitula
• the second segment extending beyond the basis capituli.
• The anal groove is posterior to the anus.

22. Haemaphysalis punctata
• the transmission of Babesia major and Babesia bigemina, Theileria
mutans (T. buffeli/orientalis), Anaplasma marginale and A.
centrale in cattle.
• In sheep, it transmits Babesia motasi and the benign Theileria
ovis.
• cause tick paralysis

23. Haemaphysalis leachi (Yellow dog tick)
This species is responsible for the transmission of
• canine piroplasmosis (B. canis) in dogs,
• tickbite fever (Rickettsia conorii)
• Coxiella burnetii

24. Haemaphysalis longicornis
• The main result of infestation is tick worry.
• This lowers production in cattle and tick bites damage hides.

25. DERMACENTOR
• medium-sized to large ticks,
• ornate patterning
• The palps and mouthparts are short
• the basis capituli is rectangular
• Festoons and eyes are present.
• Coxae progressively increase insize from I to IV. and, in the adult male ,
the coxa of the fourth pair of legs is greatly enlarged.
• The males lack ventral plates
• Three host tick and one host tick

26. Dermacentor variabilis
• American dog tick, wood tick
• Hosts: Dog, horse, cattle, man.
• three-host tick,
• 4000–6000 eggs
• Geographical distribution: North America
• D. variabilis may cause tick paralysis in dogs
• In cattle it may transmit bovine anaplasmosis
• It is also an important vector of Rickettsia rickettsii (Rocky Mountain spotted
fever) in the USA
• D.variabilis are responsible for the transmission of Anaplasma marginale in
cattle

27. Dermacentor nitens (Tropical horse tick)
• Hosts: Horse, cattle, man, many domestic and wild mammals.
Horses are the preferred host of this species.
• 3500 eggs
• Dermacentor nitens is an important vector of Babesia caballi,
resulting in equine babesiosis.(transovarially)
• Dermacentor nitens and D. albipictus are one-host ticks

28. AMBLYOMMA
• Eyes and festoons are present.
• Ornate ticks
• Ventral plates are absrnt in males
• Palps and hypostome are longer (Long mouthparts)
• Three host ticks
• domestic animals in the head and neck region

29. Amblyomma americanum (Lone star tick)
• because of a single white spot on the scutum of the female (lone
star tick)
• This tick is most commonly found on the ears, flanks, head and
belly
• Bites may cause tick paralysis
• Amblyomma americanum is an important vector of Rickettsia
rickettsii (Rocky Mountain spotted fever) and Francisella
tularensis (tularaemia).

30. Amblyomma hebraeum & A. variegatum
(Bont ticks)
• ‘Bont ticks’ transmit the important disease, heartwater, in cattle,
sheep and goats; it is caused by the rickettsia, Ehrlichia
rumination

31. Amblyomma cajennense (Cayenne tick)
• most commonly equines
• This species transmits spotted fever in South America and
Leptospira pomona.
• Painful biting
• Amblyomma gemma may be a vector for the transmission of
heartwater in cattle, sheep and goats.

32. Amblyomma maculatum (Gulf coast tick)
• A. maculatum, is not known to transmit disease
• does cause severe bites and painful swellings
• The wounds created by this species may create a suitable site for
screwworm myiasis associated with Cochliomyia spp.

33. BOOPHILUS (‘blue ticks’,)
• The palps and hypostome are short.
• The males have adanal or accessory ventral shields.
• The basis capituli is hexagonal dorsally.
• The mouthparts are short
• Inornate ticks
• Eyes present
• Festoons absent

34. • These ticks are most important vectors of Babesia spp and
Anaplasma marginale in cattle
• Boophilus annulatus is an important vector of Texas cattle fever
caused by Babesia bigemina and B. bovis.
• B.microplus present in every continent

35. HYALOMMA
• Eyes present
• long mouthparts.
• The males have ventral plates on each side of the anus.
• Hyalomma spp are usually two-host ticks,
• They are most commonly found on the legs, udder, tail or perianal
region.
• Festoons sometimes present
• Inornate ticks

36. Hyalomma anatolicum (Bont-legged tick) &
Hyalomma detritum & Hyalomma dromedarii
(camel tick)
• mainly responsible for tick toxicosis,
• The ‘toxin’ produced by the adult tick causes a sweating sickness in
ruminants
• pigs characterised by a widespread hyperaemia of the mucous
membranes
• a profuse moist eczema.
• Hyalomma aegyptium (tortoise tick)
• Hyalomma excavatum is a vector for the transmission of Theileria
annulata, causing tropical theileriosis
• vectors of several babesial, theilerial and rickettsial infections

37. RHIPICEPHALUS
• Inornate ticks
• Eyes and festoons are present
• Males have adanal plates and accessory shields
• Palps & hypostome are short
• Basis capituli are hexagonal dorsally
• 3 host tick (usually) and 2 host tick
• First coxa has two spurs

38. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus
• Common name: Brown ear tick
• three-host tick and mating takes place on the host.
• the most efficient vector of East Coast Fever of cattle caused by
Theileria parva and also transmits Babesia bigcemina and the virus
of Nairobi sheep disease.

39. Rhipicephalus sanguineus
• Common name: Brown dog tick, kennel tick
• 3 host tick
• Rhipicephalus sanguineus is primarily parasitic on dogs and is
responsible for the transmission of Babesia canis and Ehrlichia
canis and can also cause tick paralysis in the dog.

40. Rhipicephalus evertsi
• Common name: Red-legged tick
• black scutum,
• two-host species of tick
• can also transmit theilerial infections and Babesia bigemina and b.
equi.

41. Control
• use of chemical acaricides applied either by total immersion in a
dipping bath or in the form of a spray, shower, spot-on or slow-
release ear tags.
• A wide variety of formulations of organophosphate and pyrethroid
insecticides are available for application as sprays, dips, spot-on
or showers
• Macrocyclic lactones or closantel given by the parenteral route
have also been shown to be a useful aid in control of ticks.
• The avermectins & milbemycins may play an increasing role in the
control of one-host ticks.

42. • severely parasitised animals require individual treatment, special
formulations of acaricides suspended in a greasy base may be
applied to affected areas.
• topical acaricidal compounds, such as fipronil (phenylpyrazole),
imidacloprid (chloronicotinyl), selamectin (macrocyclic lactone),
amitraz (formamidine) and the organophosphates (e.g. malathion,
ronnel, chlorpyrifos, fenthion, dichlorvos, cythoate, diazinon,
propetamphos, phosmet) and carbamates can be used to kill ticks
on the host.

43. • cattle tick Boophilus microplus. (vaccine)
• natural resistance to tick infestations (Genetics)
• Traditional control methods such as burning of cattle pastures
• Pyrethroids (e.g. permethrin, deltamethrin) should not be used in
cats.

44. SOFT TICKS (ARGASIDAE)
• mouthparts are not visible from the dorsal aspect
• Scutum is absent
• They do not swell as much on engorgement
• the eggs are laid in batches.
• are drought resistant and capable of living for several years.
• Inflammation and raised areas will be present from tick bites.
• The parasites may be found on the host or found in cracks

45. Argas persicus (Fowl Tick)
• Predilection site: Skin
• The life cycle involves one larval and at least two nymphal stages prior
to adult
• Domestic poultry affects
• the four segments of the pedipalps are equal in length.
• Argas persicus is nocturnal (attacks at night)
• Infestation may cause irritation, sleeplessness, loss of egg productivity
and anaemia, which can prove fatal
• These ticks may transmit Borrelia anserina, the cause of fowl
spirochaetosis, and Aegyptianella pullorum, a rickettsial infection