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However, last year, scientists discovered a new species of ticks, whose activity peak is July-August. These ticks also transmit tick-borne encephalitis, which can already be vaccinated at BENU pharmacies.
A tick bite is painless, but it can be very dangerous. Tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease are the most common tick-borne diseases, but they are not the only ones. Ticks also spread anaplasmosis, the symptoms of which are reminiscent of the early stages of tick-borne encephalitis, babesiosis, spotted fever, Marseille fever, tularemia, and other infections. Furthermore, biologists note that more ticks survive the changing weather conditions, with the spread of a new species that is more active in the summer, so these parasites must be protected throughout the year.
“A species of tick called Haemaphysalis concinna in Latin was found in central and northern Poland, and a couple of years ago we found it in Lithuania, in the Raseiniai district. It is true that it would not be possible to distinguish with the naked eye the new mites from the typical native species; this required very careful inspection and molecular research, says the scientist, recalling that the development of common grassland ticks in our countries is in early spring. as room temperature warms to 4-5 degrees, until April.
Forest ticks, also known as canines, can also be detected in March and peak in May. And here is the peak of the newly discovered adult tick feeding stage is July-August. “So now there are ticks that can spread tick-borne encephalitis in summer, so there is no quiet year, we are in a risk zone all summer and we must be careful,” warns A. Paulauskas, doctor in Biomedical Sciences.
According to the biologist, the main distributor of tick-borne encephalitis in Lithuania is the forest or canine mite (Ixodes ricinus), but it has been found that the encephalitis virus is also transmitted by the meadow mite (Dermacentor reticulatus), which it also transmits babesiosis, which causes fatal kidney disorders. A tick mite (Ixodes persulcatus) is found in northeastern Lithuania, which also transmits tick-borne encephalitis.
Climate change favors ticks
According to the biologist, the mites are sedentary and do not crawl very far, but are carried by migratory animals that feed on blood. True, the professor points out that in the past, due to the colder climate in our countries, such ticks did not survive, but now winters have become warmer, summers more humid, which allows them to survive and reproduce in our country. .
“25 years ago, the meadow mite was found only in Suwalki, and now it has spread even to the Estonian-Latvian border. This is influenced not only by climate change and animal migration, but also by other agricultural tactics. and crop production. In Soviet times, it was customary to burn last year’s grass in spring, which also burned a large number of ticks. Our research also shows that the use of pesticides in agriculture has a significant impact on the population of ticks.
While doing research in the central part of Latvia, we hardly found ticks, although the conditions there seemed favorable, lots of tall grass. However, it turned out that the reason for this was intensive agriculture. We drove further west where abandoned non-farm farming is a veritable tick tentacle. The same is on the side of Daugavpils ”, says the scientist.
The tick in the yard is not surprising.
A professor at Vytautas Magnus University says that the highest percentage of infected ticks are found in deserts; this is the area of greatest risk. However, there are quite large tick chimneys in city parks or even in collective gardens and settlements located in them.
“Currently it is being investigated in collective gardens. People say: where do we get ticks! The cubs run around the garden, they are not going anywhere, but they find a sucked mite. For example, in Vilnius, next to the Bajorai gardens, there is a very favorable green area for ticks. There are a number of deer, foxes, and small rodents found in the desert. Furthermore, let’s not forget that ticks are also transmitted by birds: a tick attached to them can easily fall in the garden or yard and then be sucked by a dog, a cat, as well as a human ”, says prof. A. Paulauskas.
In Lithuania, tick-borne infections occur in all administrative districts, but the highest rates of tick-borne encephalitis are found in Utena county. According to the National Center for Public Health, in 2020. In Lithuania, 669 cases of tick-borne encephalitis were recorded, 3 of which resulted in deaths, and 2,811 cases of Lyme disease were recorded.
The myth that a mite is dangerous to beasts and does not touch humans
According to prof. According to A. Paulauskas, the latest research shows that the tick-borne encephalitis virus is detected at all stages of tick development: in larvae, nymphs and adult ticks, but in the latter it is even 2.4 times more common . It should also be mentioned that tick-borne encephalitis infection is higher among adult forest ticks, but it is also infected with meadow mites.
The main survivors of tick larvae are rodents, nymphs are often sucked by hares, foxes, deer, and the adult mites that normally feed are deer, but no tick will be finicky along the way and take the opportunity to feed. So all ticks are dangerous to humans at all stages of development, and the fact that some ticks only bite animals and not humans is just a myth.
“It is true that the earlier the mite, the more sensitive it is to changes in temperature or humidity, so cold winters and hot and dry summers are disastrous for them. For example, larvae survive with only 5%, nymphs with 20%, and adults are more resistant to environmental change. An adult mite can survive without food for 2-3 years ”, says the biologist.
The most effective remedy for tick-borne encephalitis is vaccines.
There is no vaccine for Lyme disease, but it can be treated with antibiotics. And the most important infection of the central nervous system in Lithuania, tick-borne encephalitis, has no specific treatment. Vaccines are the only safe and effective way to protect yourself against tick-borne encephalitis.
At the beginning of the tick season, pharmacists offer an accelerated vaccination schedule, with the first two doses given two weeks apart and the third dose between 5 and 12 months later. after the second. 3 doses of vaccine are required for complete protection, but 2 vaccines against tick-borne encephalitis also provide adequate protection.
Vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis is already possible in the aforementioned pharmacy network in Vilnius (PC Panorama, PC Rimi Jeruzalės St. 4, PC Hyper Rimi Kedrų St.) PC Molas in Klaipėda and Pasvalys, Taikos St. 20. Vaccination offices will open soon in Kaunas, Alytus and Šiauliai.
Biologist A. Paulauskas warns that the tick-borne encephalitis virus is present in the saliva of a tick, so it is transmitted as soon as the tick is absorbed.
“While I’m still in the woods or in the wild, I advise you to see if ticks crawl somewhere. After all, within 24 hours of ingestion, removing a Borrelia-infected tick can still prevent Lyme disease, because the bacteria that cause it live in the gut of the tick. And here, the tick-borne encephalitis virus is present in the salivary glands, which makes transmission very fast. Therefore “Infecting an infected mite will not prevent the virus. The only protection is vaccines,” said the scientist.
The biologist also advises to wear the appropriate clothing in nature: light to detect the crawling tick, with long sleeves close to the wrist, the bottom of the pants should also be tight or tucked into socks or boots. Also use tick repellants: repellents, take a good look in nature and when you return home, and hang worn clothes in a non-residential room or in the sun.
If the mite is still sucked in, pull it out with a few simple, sudden tweezers: “Pointed-tip medical tweezers are best, because using a cosmetic with flat ends carries the risk of compressing the abdomen of the mite, which can further infect the human bloodstream.
Then, with tweezers, press the skin against the bite site and grasp the tick as close to the head as possible. After removing the tick, disinfect the wound and monitor its well-being for at least 33 days after the bite; this is the time during which the signs of tick-borne encephalitis can appear ”, says prof. A. Paulauskas.
