Widespread throughout the national territory, it is able to transmit various pathogens both for humans and for dogs and can occasionally also be found on other pets. Its natural habitat is constituted by urban environments and in particular it is found both inside and outside the houses.
The dog tick it is a monossena species being able to complete its entire development cycle on a single host, usually the dog but in some cases also on other domestic animals. The presence of the dog is sufficient for the appearance of the parasite. Its removal does not automatically eliminate the tick since it is able to resist fasting for at least 6 months (spring-summer) before entering a state of quiescence during the cold season (autumn-winter).
The tick is very active in the search for its host and if it finds it in the following spring it resumes its life cycle: otherwise it dies. For this reason, especially in the urban suburbs where the dog is kept constantly tied up, the tick has become strictly fief of the dog.
However, the urbanization drive that led to the occupation of places once exclusive territories of wild or domestic animals, has led to a greater aggressiveness of the mint also towards humans.
Nowadays, the dog tick is recognized as a vector of rickettsiae (defined as "metropolitan") among which we mention the button fever, a benign disease that manifests itself with erythematous skin rashes but which can give rise to various complications with fatal outcomes in case failure to diagnose early. The disease manifests itself in the spring-summer months when the tick has its maximum activity. In Italy on average in recent years there have been about 1000 cases per year.
Prevention and control
The fight against ticks requires a good knowledge of the biology of the parasite and its behavior.
Removal of the tick
The control must take place on both animals and humans. If during the inspection a tick is identified with the rostrum stuck in the skin, it must be removed immediately (using curved tip tweezers) to prevent the transmission of pathogens. Removal must be clean and without breakage to avoid the spread of pathogens carried by the tick.
The use of oils or alcohols, which are commonly believed to be asphyxiating agents of ticks, have no effect on them due to the low respiratory rate (about 15 times per hour) which would cause them to detach only after 3-4 hours. Likewise, ice and heat were absolutely ineffective.
Immediately after removal, the area must be disinfected and, if necessary, the tick must be kept for the identification and possible isolation of pathogens.
Dog tick fight
There are shampoos, lotions, collars impregnated with insecticides to be used directly on pets (dog in the first place).
In the home, residual action insecticides can be used, while in open spaces it is useful to mow the grass and the possible fencing of the area.