Synonyms
Lat. Ixodes ricinus, also called common wood tick, shield tick
Definition
Ticks are the most important carriers of infectious diseases of the genus arachnids in the temperate climate zones of Europe. The different Ixodes species can only be distinguished by the specialist. In Central Europe, Ixodes ricinus is the most common tick “sucking” on humans.
The size of the “hungry” tick, i.e. the tick not yet soaked with blood, is between 3-4 mm. Like spiders, the tick has four pairs of legs, which originate from the back shield, which is only 0.5-1 mm thick. The foremost two legs, however, are not used for locomotion, but are rather equipped with fine sensory organs and barbs (this sensory apparatus is called Haller’s organ).
If the tick is looking for a host, it climbs a blade of grass or other low plants and stretches the front pair of legs into the air. If the sensory organs take warmth, this is the sign for the tick to cling to the passing victim with its barbs. The tick is not choosy on that occasion.
When it arrives at its host, it sets off to find a suitable place where it is difficult to reach and protected from scratching hands or paws. Ticks prefer thin areas of skin in dark, warm places that are well supplied with blood (e.g. in skin folds such as the armpit or the genital area or, in dogs, especially on the back). The tick’s head is equipped with two pincers, with which the tick bites firmly into the skin of its victim and then extends a stinging apparatus with which it pierces the skin and where, for example, the pathogens causing Lyme disease are located.
The actual tick bite is therefore actually a tick bite. Once the tick has soaked itself, it loosens its bite and falls off the host. In this state it can reach three times its original size and is therefore between 1.5 and 1.8 cm in size.
It takes time to suck that much blood, so that two weeks can easily pass between the tick bite and falling off the host. The body of the tick now has a grayish-yellowish color. In Central Europe, the Ioxides-ricini transmit the pathogens of TBE, Lyme disease and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (very rare disease).
It is possible to be vaccinated against TBE, which is of particular importance due to the lack of therapy options for the once acquired disease (see also our topic TBE). No vaccination against Lyme disease is possible, the best protection is the prophylaxis of exposure (avoiding contact). In the meantime, there was a borelliosis vaccination against “American borreliosis”, but this was taken off the US market again The FMSE virus is only found in ticks in locally limited endemic areas.
Borrelia are not restricted to the TBE endemic areas but are more widespread. In addition, the infestation, i.e. the percentage of ticks that are carriers of the bacterium, is much higher than with the TBE virus, it is up to 30%. A particularly high infestation of ticks with borrelia is found in the low mountain ranges such as the Bavarian Forest and the Kraichgau.
