TICKS AND MITES IN DISEASE TRANSMISSION

Ticks and mites are members of the subclass Acari, one of the dominant subclasses of
the Arachnida (chelicerate arthropoda). Arachnid, including the ticks and mites are
distinguished from the insects by the lack of a clearly defined head by chelicerae instead of
mandibles, by the absence of antennae and by the presence of 4 pairs of walking legs.
A. TICKS (Suborder Ixodida)
Characterization
All ticks are obligate bloodsucking parasites. Most ticks are relatively large with
approximately 5 to 10 mm long in adults, as compared with mites, which usually measure
less than 1 mm in length. There is a single pair of respiratoryy pores or spiracles.
Classification
The subclass Acari is subdivided into 2 major order, the order Parasitiformes, and the
order Acariformes. Ticks constitute the suborder Ixodida which is a suborder of the
prasitiformes. This suborder comprises 3 families that are the Ixodidae, the Argasidae, and
the Nuttellielidae, the letter represented by a single species, Nuttallilea namaqua.

Ixodidae
The Ixodidae (hard ticks) have a tough, sclerotized scutum, which covers the anterior

part of the dorsum

a. Genus Ixodes
This is the largest genus of hard ticks with approximately 245 species. These ticks
are readily recognized by the anal groove, which curves anterior to and encloses the
anus.
b. Genus Dermacentor
Species of this genus typically have an ornate scutum with eyes (absent in D.
dissimile) and short, thick palps. All are 3-host ticks.
c. Genus Haemaphysalis.
These ticks are easily recognized by the characteristic lateral projection of palpal
article II eyond the margins of the basis capituli.
d. Genus Ambylomma
This is one of the ixodid tick genera, found mostly in tropical and subtropical
regions of the world.
e. Genus Hyalomma

These ornamented medium-sized to large ticks have festoon (rectangular

demarcations along the posterior end of the body), eyes, and elongated palps.
f. Genus Rhipicephalus
These inornate ticks are easily recognized by the distinctive shape of the basis
capitulli.

Argasidae
a. Genus Argas
This genus comprises those ticks in which the adults and nymphs have a leathery
folded cuticle and a distinct sutural line separating the dorsal and ventral margins.\
b. Genus Ornithodoros
This includes species that lack a distinct sutural line separating dorsal and ventral
body margins.

Life Cycle and Feeding Habits

Ixodid Ticks
Metamorphosis is incomplete in ixodid ticks. The larva and nymphal stages resemble

the adults, although larvae have only 3 pairs of legs. Such species are known as 3-host ticks.
In some other species are known as 2-host tick when only the immatures remain on the same
host and 1 host ticks when both immatures and adults feed on that host.

Argasid Ticks
Metamorphosis is also incomplete in this family, but there are more nymphal instars

(2 to 4 are common), but as many 6 or 7 instars have been recorded in some species. Virtually
all argasid ticks are multihost parasites, but there are notable exceptions, the 2-host tick
Ornithodoros lahorensis and the 1-host ticks Otobius lagophilus except in larvae
Behaviour and Host Range
a. Habitats
Most ixodid ticks are dispersed in vegetation in forests, brushy habitats, meadows, or
otther grassy may even occur in sand, in gravel, or under shale and rocks. Agrasid ticks and
most species of genus Ixodes are nidicoles, living in the nests, burrows, or other shelters
made by their hosts.
b. Host Range
Most species have a well defined, restricted range od hosts. According to Hoogstraal
and Adschlimann (1982), host specifity is an important factor contributing to confirming tick
species within narrow ecologic niches and geographic ranges.
Medical and Veterinary Importance of Ticks

Ticks transmit a greater diversity of disease causing agents than any othe group of anthropod
vectors. The disease relationships of the Ixodidae (hard ticks) are :
a. Lyme Disease
This disease is caused by a spirochete and is transmitted by certain species of the
genus Ixodes.Ticks acquire the spirochete when larvae feed on spirochetemic ,ice, especially
white-footed mice. Thus, the major attributes of the epizootiology of Lyme disease are :
1. It is zoonotic, with transmission occuring transtadially rather than transovarially.
2. Small mammals, especailly mice and occasionally othe vertebrates, are the
reservoir hosts.
3. The disease is most commonly found in areas where deer are abundant.
b. Rocky Mountain Spottede Ever
This disease is caused by Rickettsia rickettsi.The primary vector is the American dog
tick, Dermacentor variabilis, although a variety of other species can also transmit the
rickettsiae.
c. Congo-Crimean Hemorrhaic Fever (CCHF)
CCHF is a true-tick borne arbovirus, because it passes trans-stadially and
transovarially within the tick population and survives interseasonallyt in these vectors. The
H. Marinatum complex and other human bitting Hyalomma species contribute to the
periiodic epidemmic and epixootics of CCHH (Malang)
d. Omsk Hemorrhagic Fever (OHF)
This is an acute, febril disease with distictive hemorrhasic syndrome. It is caused by a virus
of genes flavivirusI, family Togaviridae

Disease Relationship of the Argasidae (Soft Ticks)

Species of Argas are important as vectors of several viral and bakteria disease.

a. Quaranfil Virus Diseases

Argas virus is circulated almost nestling bird in heron rookeries and is transmitted
fron bird to bird by the nest. Perhaps the most important human disease transmitter by
argasid ticks is relapsing.
b. Relapsing fever
Perhaps the most imporatant human disaase transmitted by argasid ticks is relpasing
fever, a spirochetal disease caused by species of Borellia.
B. MITES
Characterization
In contracts to the ticks, mites exhibit much greater diversity in heir body structure
and biology. Most mites are small when compared with the ticks. In contrast to the ticks, the

chelicerae of mites are quite variable, but uasually scissor-like, with their cutting edges most
often located on the medial facets.
Classification
Mites are subdivided into 2 main taxonomic groupings, the order Parasitiformes and
the Acariformes. Brief descriptions of some of the suborders of mites that cause or transmit
disease to humans and animal follow :
a. Tetrastigmatid Mites (Suborder Holothyroidea)
These are relatively large (2 to 7mm long), heavily scelorotized mites. These mites are
believed to be carnivorous.
b. Mesostigmatid Mites (Suborder Gamasida)
These mites are closest to the ticks in general appearance. Mesostigmatid mites are
generally robust, wuth sclerotized body plates.
c. Prostigmatid Mites (Suborder Actinadida)
This is a large, diverse group of mites including many species that transmit human
and animal disease. The group is characterized by the presence of a pair of stigmata at
the base of chelicerae.
d. Astigmata Mites (Suborder Acaridida)
These are mostly small, slow moving mites. Many are fungiovorous, others are
saprophogous or feed detritus. Few are predaceous. Several species are exclusively
parasitic.
Habitats and Life Cycles
Numerous species live entirely in the soil, feeding on fungi, bacteria, other
microrganism, or decomposing organic matter. Others live on the ground, especially in the
upper layers of the soil at the interface with the duff, detritus, and/or leafy layer that
characterizes the top of the root zone of the vegetation. The typical life cycle includes the
egg, protonymph, deutonymph, tritonymph, and the adult.
Behaviour, Life Cycles, and Host Range
In the Mesostigmata, most of the parasitic mites are nidicoles, living in the best or
burrow environment of their mammal or bird hosts. Among the prostigmatid mites, one of the
most important parasites is the chigger mites (family Trombiculidae). In these species, only
the larva is parasitic. Other prostigmatid mites are obligate parasites in all stages, spending
the entire lives on the same host. Among the Astigmatid mites, one finds similar examples of
highly adapted obligate ectoparasiic life cycles.
Medical and Veterinary Importance of Mites
a. Mesostigmatid Mites

These mites transmit a variety of human and animal diseases. For examples, some
transmit rickettsial diseases caused by Rickettsia akari, and transmitted by the house
mite, Liponyssus sanguineus.
b. Prostigmatid Mites
This disease, caused by Rickettsia tsutsugamushi, is the most important miteborne
disease of humans.
c. Astigmatid Mites
These include many species are serious pests or causative agents of disease and
allergy. Among the best known are the mange mites, especially the families
Psoroptidae, Sarcoptidae, and Demodicidae.
d. Dust Mite Allergy
An increasingly recognized mite associated illness is dust mite allergy. Protein in mite
feces, rather than the mites themselves, are regarded as the primary allergen
responsible for the allergic reactions.
INSECTS IN DISEASE TRANSMISSION
Disease Transmission
An arthropod may transmit a disease agent from 1 person or animal to another in 1 of
2 basic ways.
a. Mechanical Transmission
This consists of a simple transfer of the organism on contaminated mouth parts or feet or
by regurgitation or defecation.
b. Biologic Transmission
As the name implies, the pathogen must undergo some type of development in the body
of the insect vector in order to complete its life cycle. There are 3 types of biologic
transmission :
Propagative Transmission : Occurs when the organism ingested with the blood meal

undergoes simple multiplication in the body of the insects. Ex: The Arboviruses
Cyclopropagative Transmission : The pathogen undergoes a development cycles
(changes from 1 stages to another) as well as multiplication in the body of the insects.

Ex: Malaria
Cyclodevelopmental Transmission : The pathogen undergoes developmental

changes from 1 stages to another but does not multiply. Ex: Filaria
c. Extrinsic Incubation
Time is required for development of the pathogen to the infective stage that can be
transmitted.. This period of time is called the extrinsic incubation period and is generally
7 to 14 days in duration depending on the pathogen, vector, and environment.
d. Transovarial Transmission

Some viral and rickettsial diseases are transmitted from the female parent arthropoda
through the eggs to the offsprings.
e. Factor Influencing Transmission
The abilty of insects to transmit a disease agent is dependent on many factors. There are
intrinsic factors and extrinsic factors.
Disease Transmission by Major Insects Groups

FLEAS (Order Siphonaptera)

Biology : They generally live in the nest or habitat of the host and feed on organic matter.
The developmental cycles of fleas from egg to adults normally takes places in the nest of the
host.
Disease transmission : Fleas are important natural vectors of 2 diseases of human those are
plague and Murine typhus. Transmission of plague by fleas can occur in several ways, most
importantly by the bite of an infected flea. Transmission of murine typhus by fleas may
also occur by inhalation of dust contaminates with infected dlea feces.
Cestode Infections : In addition to serving as vectors, fleas also act as intermediate hosts for
at least 2 tape worms that may infect humans, Dypilidum caninum of dogs, and
Hymenolopsis diminuta of rats.

SUCKING LICE (Order Anoplura)

Biology : Sucking lice are small, wingless, obligate ectoparasites of mammals belonging to
the order Anoplura. There are 3 species : human body, head, and pubic louse
Disease transmission : Only the body louse is of known importance in the transmission of
human disease. Head and pubic lices have biologic and behavioral characteristic that would
allow transmission either mechanically or biologically. Those are :
o Epidemic Typhus : caused by Rickettsia prowazekli
o Trench Fever : caused by Rickettsia quintana
o Epidemic Relapsing Fever : caused by a apirochete, Borrellia recurrentis.