Ornithodoros erraticus
Encyclopedia
Ornithodoros erraticus is a species of tick
in the family Argasidae
. The tick was described by Hippolyte Lucas
in 1849.
and Mediterranean
. It is one of the more common soft ticks
to bite humans. Their main food sources in Spain
are pigs; the tick has been found in pig pens in the provinces of Salamanca
, Badajoz
, and Huelva
. The only human habitats the tick can enter are places in poor condition.
and African swine fever virus
es and the spirochetes Borrelia crocidurae
and Borrelia hispanica
. When the tick is infected by Borrelia crocidurae, the disease affects its genetic organ, the testes in males and the ovaries in females. The tick transmits the African swine fever virus only on the Iberian Peninsula
(Spain and Portugal
).
The tick feeds at night, ingesting blood to repletion in about 15 minutes. Small mammals are the most common hosts; this species rarely bites humans, preferring other vertebrates. The tick has substances in its saliva
, such as antihaemostatic, anti-inflammatory
, and immunomodulator
y molecules, which help the tick get blood from the host and transfer pathogen
s easily. Major factors in their feeding relationship are mating, recent feeding, and size; the name of this is called hyperparasitism
.
Some strains of entomopathogenic fungi have been found to be effective against this tick and others in the genus Ornithodoros in a study which concluded the fungi could be used as biocontrol
agents for argasid ticks.
Tick
Ticks are small arachnids in the order Ixodida, along with mites, constitute the subclass Acarina. Ticks are ectoparasites , living by hematophagy on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians...
in the family Argasidae
Argasidae
Argasidae is a family of ticks containing the soft ticks. They lack the hard scutum that is present in the hard ticks . The capitulum is located on the underside of the animal's body and is not readily visible...
. The tick was described by Hippolyte Lucas
Hippolyte Lucas
Pierre-Hippolyte Lucas was a French entomologist.Lucas was an assistant-naturalist at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle. From 1839 to 1842 he studied fauna as part of the scientific Commission on the exploration of Algeria.His brother was Prosper Lucas.-Works:*Histoire naturelle des...
in 1849.
Description
The tick is native to the Middle EastMiddle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and Mediterranean
Mediterranean Basin
In biogeography, the Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around the Mediterranean Sea that have a Mediterranean climate, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers, which supports characteristic Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub vegetation...
. It is one of the more common soft ticks
Argasidae
Argasidae is a family of ticks containing the soft ticks. They lack the hard scutum that is present in the hard ticks . The capitulum is located on the underside of the animal's body and is not readily visible...
to bite humans. Their main food sources in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
are pigs; the tick has been found in pig pens in the provinces of Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
, Badajoz
Badajoz
Badajoz is the capital of the Province of Badajoz in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain, situated close to the Portuguese border, on the left bank of the river Guadiana, and the Madrid–Lisbon railway. The population in 2007 was 145,257....
, and Huelva
Huelva
Huelva is a city in southwestern Spain, the capital of the province of Huelva in the autonomous region of Andalusia. It is located along the Gulf of Cadiz coast, at the confluence of the Odiel and Tinto rivers. According to the 2010 census, the city has a population of 149,410 inhabitants. The...
. The only human habitats the tick can enter are places in poor condition.
Pathology
This species carries the pathogenic QalyubQalyub virus
Qalyub virus is a nairovirus discovered in a rat's nest in a tomb wall in the Egyptian town of Qalyub in 1952. The primary vector for transmission is the Ornithodoros erraticus tick, and thus it is an arbovirus....
and African swine fever virus
African swine fever virus
African swine fever virus is the causative agent of African swine fever . ASFV is a large, double-stranded DNA virus which replicates in the cytoplasm of infected cells, and is the only member of the Asfarviridae family. ASFV infects domestic pigs, warthogs and bushpigs, as well as soft ticks ,...
es and the spirochetes Borrelia crocidurae
Borrelia
Borrelia is a genus of bacteria of the spirochete phylum. It causes borreliosis, a zoonotic, vector-borne disease transmitted primarily by ticks and some by lice, depending on the species...
and Borrelia hispanica
Borrelia
Borrelia is a genus of bacteria of the spirochete phylum. It causes borreliosis, a zoonotic, vector-borne disease transmitted primarily by ticks and some by lice, depending on the species...
. When the tick is infected by Borrelia crocidurae, the disease affects its genetic organ, the testes in males and the ovaries in females. The tick transmits the African swine fever virus only on the Iberian Peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
(Spain and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
).
The tick feeds at night, ingesting blood to repletion in about 15 minutes. Small mammals are the most common hosts; this species rarely bites humans, preferring other vertebrates. The tick has substances in its saliva
Saliva
Saliva , referred to in various contexts as spit, spittle, drivel, drool, or slobber, is the watery substance produced in the mouths of humans and most other animals. Saliva is a component of oral fluid. In mammals, saliva is produced in and secreted from the three pairs of major salivary glands,...
, such as antihaemostatic, anti-inflammatory
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-inflammatory refers to the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation. Anti-inflammatory drugs make up about half of analgesics, remedying pain by reducing inflammation as opposed to opioids, which affect the central nervous system....
, and immunomodulator
Immunomodulator
An immunomodulator, also known as an immunotherapy is a substance which has an effect on the immune system.- Immunosuppressants :Inhibits immune response in organ transplantation and autoimmune diseases.- Immunostimulants :...
y molecules, which help the tick get blood from the host and transfer pathogen
Pathogen
A pathogen gignomai "I give birth to") or infectious agent — colloquially, a germ — is a microbe or microorganism such as a virus, bacterium, prion, or fungus that causes disease in its animal or plant host...
s easily. Major factors in their feeding relationship are mating, recent feeding, and size; the name of this is called hyperparasitism
Hyperparasite
A hyperparasite is a parasite whose host is a parasite. This form of parasitism is especially common among entomophagous parasites....
.
Some strains of entomopathogenic fungi have been found to be effective against this tick and others in the genus Ornithodoros in a study which concluded the fungi could be used as biocontrol
BioControl
BioControl is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by Springer Science+Business Media covering all aspects of basic and applied research in biological control of invertebrate, vertebrate, and weed pests, and plant diseases. The journal was established in 1956 as Entomophaga and published by...
agents for argasid ticks.
External links
- Ornithodorus erraticus, BioLib
- Ornithodorus erraticus, GBIF