Ticks of the genus Hyalomna are going hunting again. It was only in 2015 that one was found in Germany on a horse near Frankfurt.
The ticks can be recognized by their brown-yellow striped legs. They are almost as fast as spiders. But what makes them so dangerous?
Ticks are millimeter-sized blood-sucking ectoparasites that require the blood of vertebrates to reproduce. There are over 900 species of ticks worldwide. The best known is the common wood tick (Ixodes ricinus) and the the riparian tick (Dermacentor reticulatus).
But there is a difference between the mentioned tick species and the Hyalomna tick: the Hyalomna goes hunting. Most tick species lie in wait for weeks for a passing host to infest. But the Hylomna tick detects its hosts, such as horses and cattle, from up to ten meters away. And then tracks its prey over 100 kilometers.
One tick can suck up to eight milliliters of blood. With 200 ticks that can infest a horse, this becomes problematic. In addition, ticks transmit dangerous pathogens such as Lyme disease, TBE viruses and ricksettsia. This can lead to diseases such as Crimean-Congo and hemorrhagic fever and Lyme disease.
Third most common tick in Germany
The Hyalomna tick originates from Africa and is introduced via migratory birds. Meanwhile, the tropical tick Hyalomna is already the third most common tick in Germany. These results were presented this week at the Tick Congress at the University of Hohenheim (Germany). Dry periods favor the survival of the Hyaloma tick.
Protect your horse
Therefore, it is important to protect humans and animals from the small bloodsuckers. Tablets, oils or substances for spraying are recommended. The tick should be detected as soon as possible and properly removed to prevent worse.
Source: FAZ
