Biologist Algimantas Paulauskas, professor of Vytautas Magnus University, who observes the influence of climate change on the spread of ticks in Lithuania, says that ticks were most active in Lithuania in spring and early summer, then there was a bit of a pause and the parasites became active again in September-October - just in time for the mushrooming season. However, last year, scientists discovered a new species of ticks whose peak activity is in July-August. These ticks also spread tick-borne encephalitis, which can already be vaccinated against in BENU pharmacies.
A tick bite is painless, but 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 resemble the initial stage of tick-borne encephalitis, the causative agents of babesiosis, spotted typhus, Marseille fever, tularemia and other infections that are dangerous for dogs. In addition, biologists notice that more ticks survive as the climate conditions change, a new species spreads, which is most active in the summer, so these parasites need to be protected all year round.
"Latin Haemaphysalis concinna A tick species called True, it would be impossible to distinguish new ticks from typical local species with the naked eye - this required very careful inspection and molecular research, - says the scientist and reminds that the peak of development of common meadow ticks in our region is from early spring - as soon as the ambient temperature warms up to 4-5 degrees, until April. In March, you can also find forest ticks, also known as dog ticks, whose activity peaks in May. And here, the feeding peak of the adult stage of the newly discovered ticks is July-August. "So now there are ticks that can spread tick-borne encephalitis in the summer as well, so there are no more quiet years, we are in the risk zone all summer and we have to be careful," warns Doctor of Biomedical Sciences A. Paulauskas.
According to the biologist, the main spreader of tick-borne encephalitis in Lithuania is the forest or dog tick (lat. Ixodes ricinus), but it was discovered that the encephalitis virus is also spread by the meadow tick (lat. Dermacentor reticulatus), which also transmits babesiosis to dogs, which causes fatal kidney problems. In North-Eastern Lithuania, the taiga tick (lat. Ixodes persulcatus), which also transmits tick-borne encephalitis.
Climate change favors ticks
According to the biologist, ticks are sedentary and do not crawl far, but they are carried by animals that feed on their blood, migrating birds. True, the professor notes that earlier due to the colder climate of our region, such ticks did not survive, but now winters have become warmer, summers more humid, so it has become possible for them to survive and multiply in our country.
"25 years ago, meadow ticks were found only in Suvalki, and now they are spread even to the border of Estonia and Latvia. This is influenced not only by the changed climate and the migration of animals, but also by different tactics of agriculture and crop cultivation. During the Soviet era, it was common to burn dead grass in the spring, which also burned a significant number of ticks. Our research also shows that the use of pesticides in agriculture has a significant impact on the tick population. When we explored the central part of Latvia, we found almost no ticks, although the conditions there seemed favorable, with lots of tall grass. However, it turned out that the reason for this is intensive agriculture. We went further to the West, where abandoned, unworked agriculture is a veritable hive of ticks. The same is the case on the Daugavpils side," says the scientist.
A tick in the yard is not surprising
The professor of Vytautas Magnus University says that the highest percentage of infected ticks is in the woods - this is the area of greatest risk. However, quite large centers of ticks can also be found in city parks or even in collective gardens and in the settlements located in them.
"Right now, research is being conducted in collective gardens. People say - where do we get ticks from? Puppies run in the yard, they don't go anywhere, but they find a tick that has been sucked in. For example, in Vilnius, near the gardens of the nobles, there is a green area that is very favorable for ticks. There are a lot of deer, foxes and small rodents that live in the woods. Let's also not forget that ticks are also carried by birds: a tick attached to them can easily fall in the garden or yard and later be sucked into a dog, cat, and also a person," says Prof. A. Paulauskas.
In Lithuania, tick-borne infections are spread in all administrative districts, but the highest rates of tick-borne encephalitis are in Utena County. According to the National Center for Public Health, in 2020 In Lithuania, 669 cases of tick-borne encephalitis were registered, of which 3 resulted in deaths, and 2811 cases of Lyme disease were recorded.
It is a myth that only ticks are dangerous for animals and do not affect humans
According to prof. A. Paulauskas, recent studies show that the tick-borne encephalitis virus is detected in all stages of tick development - larvae, nymphs and adult ticks, but it is even 2,4 times more common in the latter. It should also be mentioned that infection with tick-borne encephalitis is higher among adult forest ticks, but meadow ticks are also infected. The main feeders of tick larvae are rodents, nymphs are often sucked by hares, foxes, deer, adult ticks are usually fed by deer, but if a person comes across the road, none of the ticks will be picky and will take the opportunity to feed. Thus, all ticks in all stages of development are dangerous to humans, and the fact that some ticks bite only animals and not humans is just a myth.
"It is true that the earlier the tick is, the more sensitive it is to changes in temperature or humidity, so cold winters and hot and dry summers are devastating for them. For example, only 5% of larvae survive, 20% of nymphs, and adults are the most resistant to environmental changes. "An adult tick can survive for 2-3 years without food," says the biologist.
