Biochemical perspectives on paralysis and other forms of toxicoses caused by ticks

Abstract

Tick toxicoses, of which paralysis is the most widespread and dominant form, are important elements of pathogenesis induced by ticks. Tick paralysis is the most widespread and dominant form of tick toxicoses. Non-paralytic forms of tick toxicoses do occur and evidence suggests that these forms of toxicoses are not evolutionary related. While functional significance has been suggested for tick toxins, the advantages for tick survival in general are not clear. This review considers the molecular nature of tick toxins, the possibility that tick toxins have originated more than once independently and whether these toxins could have unrecognized benign functions.

The Biological Survey of Canada: A Personal History

“…This potentially lethal effect is produced in humans and other host animals by ticks of several different argasid and ixodid species. World-wide there are 55 species of ixodids and 14 species of soft ticks which have been reported to cause paralysis (Gothe et al 1979;Gothe 1999), but few species have been studied in detail (Mans et al 2004). However, reports of the paralysing abilities of many of these species are anecdotal and require confirmation.…”

Ancestral reconstruction of tick lineages

“…Inclusion of the blood-feeding arthropods has been omitted in more recent reviews on the topic (Casewell et al 2013), but given the stated definition could still be included. The definition to some extent, obscures meaning when a distinction between benign (those that does not cause debilitating toxicoses) and toxic arthropods is necessary, or when the evolutionary origins and causes of toxicoses are considered (Mans et al 2004). Irrespective of the definition, most authors recognize that convergent evolution of venoms occurred in all arthropod and arachnid lineages (Casewell et al 2013;Fry et al 2009;von Reumont et al 2014).…”

Garrapatas (Acari: Ixodidae) prevalentes en caninos no migrantes del noroccidente de Bogotá, Colombia

“…Al momento de la consulta el estudio determinó como 12 de los 34 caninos con garrapatas, esto es 35,2%, tuvieron signos de eritema migrans en el lugar de la picadura, acompañado de astenia, adinamia, depresión y fiebre, síntomas locales y sistémicos que si bien pueden relacionarse circunstancialmente con la presencia de la picadura de garrapatas, y los efectos hemolíticos de su saliva con capacidad de causar parálisis motora (65), también pueden relacionarse con infección presente y causada por Ehrlichia spp y Rickettsia spp (66).…”