The species of ticks bites on human and their seasonal distribution in Ankara, Turkey

Abstract

Summary: Ticks (Acari: Ixodoidea) are among the most significant blood-sucking arthropods worldwide. In humans, they can cause severe toxic conditions such as paralyses, irritation and allergy. Besides these, they transmit a great variety of infectious diseases caused by viral, bacterial and protozoal agents, including Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus. This study was performed for evaluation of received 1562 samples from humans with the complaint of tick bite to National Parasitology Reference Laboratories between January 2011 and December 2013. Ticks were taken directly into 70% alcohol and have been identified under the stereo microscope. It was found that 1497 (95.84%) were ticks, 39 were (2.50%) artifacts such as scab and blood clots, 22 (1.41%) were different arthropods of non-medical importance, 3 were (0.19%) pubic lice (Pthirus pubis), 1 was (0.06%) bedbug (Cimex lectularius).