Study Reveals Large Differences In Knowledge About Ticks Between Countries

Ticks are recovered each complete nan world. There are much than 900 species, and galore of them walk connected vulnerable diseases to some humans and animals.

Recently, researchers conducted nan largest study of its benignant to find retired what group cognize astir ticks. They asked much than 9,400 group from 22 European countries astir which diseases ticks tin carry, really to admit them, and really to debar getting bitten.

Norwegians responded that they are alert of Borrelia and TBE virus, but galore were not alert of different microbes for illustration Anaplasma and Babesia."

Vivian Kjelland, researcher, University of Agder

Although Anaplasma and Babesia usually lead to illness successful sheep and cattle, they tin besides origin illness successful humans.

Large differences betwixt countries

The study reveals ample differences successful knowledge astir ticks betwixt countries. In Greece and Spain, for example, galore group struggled to separate ticks from different insects successful nan images shown to them.

"Further south, astir nan Mediterranean, group person been much concerned astir mosquitoes and soil flies that tin origin disease. Ticks person somewhat vanished from nationalist speech there," says Kjelland.

The study was sent to unit and students astatine investigation and higher acquisition institutions crossed Europe. In this way, nan researchers could guarantee a comparatively azygous group of participants successful each country.

Of those who responded, 75 per cent had been bitten by ticks astatine slightest once. Around 12 per cent had contracted a tick-borne disease. In Norway, only cases of Lyme illness were reported among those who responded to nan survey.

Laid-back southerners

Kjelland is concerned that galore Norwegians do not cognize really communal ticks person go and really superior it tin beryllium to statement a tick-borne disease. Especially successful confederate Norway, she believes galore group return nan threat of ticks excessively lightly.

"People who person lived a agelong clip and spent a batch of clip successful nan wood without getting sick thin to deliberation ticks aren't very dangerous. But that doesn't mean they are immune to nan diseases ticks carry," she says.

Here is simply a reality check: The consequence of getting sick from a tick wound is comparatively low. For instance, a Swedish study indicates that only 2 per cent of group bitten by ticks carrying Borrelia germs autumn ill. But that doesn't mean we should return it lightly, Kjelland clarifies - immoderate get very ill.

It's besides not nan lawsuit that you only brushwood ticks successful nan forest. You tin besides beryllium bitten successful nan parkland aliases successful nan plot if you're unlucky.

Kjelland sees that wherever southerners whitethorn beryllium excessively relaxed, group successful Eastern Norway thin to beryllium overmuch much worried astir being bitten by ticks.

"It's important that group get bully accusation and equilibrium their fears. Take ticks seriously, return precautions to debar being bitten, and cheque yourself thoroughly aft a walk. And bask nature, nan joyousness of hiking and nan wellness benefits of being outside," says nan researcher.

Misconceptions astir removal

There are respective precautions you tin return to debar tick-borne diseases. Use mosquito aliases insect repellent, particularly connected your little body. It whitethorn besides beryllium wise to instrumentality to paths and not locomotion done gangly writer aliases bushes. After nan hike, you should cheque yourself thoroughly. It's besides a bully thought to alteration apparel aft nan hike and comb your hairsbreadth pinch a lice comb.

The study shows that galore group do not cognize what to do if they person a tick. Many group twist it aliases time off it while they hold for a doctor's appointment.

"Twisting nan tick is simply a myth. Doing that tin break disconnected nan tick's rima parts. Just propulsion it consecutive retired pinch tweezers aliases utilizing your nails," says Kjelland. If you are unfortunate and immoderate of nan tick remains, it's not vulnerable - though it whitethorn consciousness a spot unpleasant.

She explains that TBE microorganism is transmitted wrong minutes, while Borrelia germs typically return a time to beryllium transmitted from nan tick. The longer nan tick stays attached, nan greater nan chance of infection.

"So don't discarded clip looking for tweezers, conscionable propulsion it retired correct away," says Kjelland.

Changing ambiance brings caller tick species

Many exotic tick type travel to Norway pinch migratory birds each spring. If nan ambiance changes and becomes warmer and wetter, much of these type mightiness found themselves successful nan north. They whitethorn transportation caller types of germs and viruses.

"An illustration of this is nan Hyalomma tick that was recovered successful Vestby successful 2018. It will pursuit you, alternatively of sitting still and waiting for you to locomotion by," says Kjelland.

What worries her particularly astir this tick type is that it whitethorn beryllium a bearer of nan CCHF virus.

"The summertime of 2018 was peculiarly hot, and that apt explains why nan tick was recovered that year. Most summers successful Norway aren't lukewarm capable for Hyalomma ticks brought present by migratory birds to survive," says Kjelland.

She besides mentions that nan tick type Ixodes persulcatus, which tin beryllium a bearer of nan eastbound TBE virus, has now been detected successful bluish Norway. The eastbound microorganism is acold deadlier than nan occidental TBE microorganism our autochthonal ticks mightiness carry.

The TBE vaccine, often called nan tick vaccine, mostly offers bully protection against some types of TBE virus, assures nan researcher.