INZ warns: Caution, ticks! With the advent of a warmer weather, healthcare workers record an increase in tick bites every year. More frequent and longer stay in nature is something that increases the risk of bites, so the Institute forHealth and Food Safety Zenica (INZ) recommends caution. Although experts say that every fourth tick is infected, the problem can arise if the tick is retained for a long time in the body and if its blood comes into contact with the patient’s blood.
Ticks, parasitic insects feed the blood of the victim, and thus transmit infectious diseases, which in our region occur sporadically, but they are not harmless. We consider ticks the most important transmitters of diseases in humans and animals. In humans and animals, ticks can cause intoxications, which are most commonly attributed to paralysis, irritation, and allergy. Diseases of domestic animals transmitted by ticks are an important limiting factor for the development of livestock breeding.
For tick activity, higher temperature and humidity are very important, so they are the most numerous and most active in spring and summer. They can also meet in autumn, but much less often. In the summer months, an increasing number of people go to nature and meadows, often with their pets. In this way, they are exposed to a possible tick bite. The ticks feed with the blood of the victim, and consequently transmit infectious diseases that occur in our region sporadically, but they are not harmless.
Below the text, we provide important information and advice, prepared by the experts of INZ’s “One Health” functional center.
Human and animal diseases
The most important infectious diseases in humans transmitted by ticks are:
Tick-borne encephalitis- inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, whose clinical picture can go from ordinary cold to severe brain inflammation;
Congo-Crimean haemorrhagic fever – a contagious disease that is very rare in our area, but leads to disorders in blood clotting, causing severe bleeding, which can result in death;
Rickettsiosis – illnesses that may resemble influenza, but can also cause severe forms of illness with lethal complications,
Lyme disease – a disease characterized by skin change (erythema in the form of a ring) at the site of a tick bite, which passes spontaneously and harmlessly, if treated in time with appropriate antibiotics, while in some forms after a certain time it can cause severe inflammation of the heart and brain . In the FBiH region, as well as ZDK, a small number of patients with Lyme disease are registered every year.
The most important infectious diseases in animals transmitted by ticks are:
Lyme disease – a disease of animals that is manifested by changes in the skin, joints, heart, nervous system, eyes, etc. In the case of sick dogs, loss of appetite, temperature, painful joints, rapid tiredness and nervous disorders.
Piroplasmosis (babesiosis) – The illness occurs suddenly, it can manifest from 36 to 72 hours after the tick sting. Particular attention should be paid to cases of: prominent weakness of the animal (rapid fatigue, reluctance, lack of interest, fatigue, powerlessness, depression), high temperatures (fever) of 40-41 ° C, changes in urine, pale and icteric mucous membranes, congestion or diarrhea , vomiting, food refusals and loss of appetite, rapid breathing, and heart function. The first sign of the disease that the owner can notice is most commonly the appearance of blood in urine (hemoglobinuria), or dark urine – due to the decay of a large number of red blood cells. At that stage, unfortunately, the disease has already been very advanced!
Ehrlichiosis in dogs – the most common symptoms of the disease are tendencies to bleeding, vomiting, weight loss, fever, enlargement of the spleen, enlargement of the lymph nodes, loss of coordination of muscular movements, heart murmurs, urinating blood and black cataract chairs of caracteristic scent.
Tularemia is a primary disease of wildlife, primarily rodents (rabbits, rabbits, squirrels, mice, rats) that are transmitted to humans and some domestic animals (sheep, dogs and cats). Clinical signs are not typical, animals are apathetic and have cramps. The disease ends with a dead animal for two to ten days.
Protection, prevention and removal of parasites from the skin
Although most bites pass without infection, however, there may be a side effect like skin irritation and allergic reactions occurring at the bites. The best way to protect against ticks is to wear suitable clothing and footwear (long sleeves and socks) while staying in nature, apply repellents (spray and insect repellent) to the skin before going to nature, and check the skin thoroughly after returning home (especially parts where the skin is most sensitive: behind the neck, the ear, under the armpits, the breast, the groin, behind the knees, etc.). Special attention should be paid to the examination of small children on the head, because the children are very low and very often ticks hook on that part of the body.
Persons who notice the tick attached to the body, should be removed him as soon as possible with clean hands and disinfected tweezers, in such a way that the insect is taken lightly in the area of the head, i.e. as close to the skin as possible, and to get rid of the mild, even-handed withdrawal from the skin without any twisting, ensuring that the entire insect is removed without damaging the skin and without any use of oil, gasoline, ice or some other preparations. In the event that a head or oral part of insect remains, it should be attempted to remove itwith the tweezers without damaging the skin, otherwise contact an emergency medical aid. It is important to examine the site of the bite, disinfect it, and once again check that everything is extracted from the skin.
In the event of swelling or any other skin changes at the site of the sting, an antiallergic medicine should be applied. Antimicrobial protection after a tick bite is generally determined by a competent physician based on the presence of symptoms.
Another method of removing ticks, especially the type of burning with a stick, tamping a tick, coating with some cream, grease or oils, is not recommended because it is ineffective. For those who are professionally exposed to ticks (foresters, soldiers, mountaineers, hunters) vaccination is recommended, according to INZ experts.
In animals, especially dogs, the best is use of the preventive systemic tick protection products, and daily checking of dogs and removal of ticks. Today there are very effective preparations, in the form of tablets, spot-on preparations, and necklaces, whose regular use, especially during the tick season, can significantly reduce the risk of illness. For diseases that transmit ticks the most important is the regular monthly protection against ectoparasites throughout the year, as well as the examination of the animal after everyday walk, and it is recommended that the dogs be vaccinated.
Institute for Health and Food Safety Zenica
Bosnia and Herzegovina