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Expanding areas of distribution: Danger of tick crisis increases

byadmin
November 18, 2024

Ticks are becoming a greater threat due to global warming as they travel between continents and carry the diseases they carry to new regions thanks to migratory birds. Experts stated that there is a risk of rapid spread of tick-borne diseases.

Ticks, together with migratory birds, can carry diseases to new regions by traveling thousands of kilometers. With the acceleration of global warming, the possibility of these parasites to survive and spread in new climate conditions has increased. Experts warn that tropical tick species in particular may settle in northern regions where they could not survive before and cause the emergence of new diseases.
“If tropical tick species begin to spread to regions where they could not survive before, this increases the risk of the diseases they carry spreading to a wider geography,” said Dr. Shahid Karim from the University of Southern Mississippi. Ticks are known to be important carriers of diseases, especially for humans and pets, and have been spreading rapidly geographically in recent years.
Migratory birds play an important role in the spread of ticks. According to a study conducted in the northern Gulf of Mexico, DNA analysis was performed on tick examinations conducted on birds to determine the types of ticks the birds carried on their bodies and the microorganisms they carried. The study revealed that more than 15,000 birds were examined and 164 of them had a total of 421 ticks. However, it was determined that 81 percent of the ticks detected belonged to only four species. It has also been observed that short-distance migrants carry more ticks than long-distance migrants.
The microorganisms carried by ticks include bacteria, some of which can cause dangerous diseases in humans. The most common type of bacteria, Francisella, helps ticks function, while another common type of bacteria, *Rickettsia*, can cause diseases in humans. However, it is not yet certain whether these bacteria can be transmitted to humans via new tick species.
Dr. Karim emphasized that individuals should check themselves after walking in tick-infested areas and use insect repellent in order to minimize the risk of spreading tick-borne diseases.
This tick crisis, which is increasing with the effect of global warming, is leading health authorities and scientists to take new precautions. The borderless nature of diseases carried by ticks poses a great threat to both health and environmental safety.
byadmin
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