Many of the hard tick species that infect animals in the UK are also present in other parts of Europe and the rest of the world information on these can be found here. There are many tick species that are important both in the effects of their ectoparasitism but also in their ability to transmit other infectious agents.

Ixodes spp.

Rhipicephalus spp.

Boophilus spp.

Amblyomma spp.

Hyalomma spp.

These are large ticks that are commonly found on the legs, udder, tail or perianal region of mammals. They are either two or three host ticks found in central Asia, southern Europe and North Africa. This is largely dependant Ticks of these species can identified by;

• Eyes present
• Long mouthparts
• Ventral plates around male anus
• Inornate
• Banded legs

Hyalomma anatolicum

There are two subspecies known, H. anatolicum excavatum that is found in central Europe and Asia and H. anatolicum anatolicum which can be found throughout the rest of the range. These ticks cause tick toxicosis in Africa which is a sweating sickness seen in pigs and ruminants. This is accompanied by a profuse moist eczema and hyperaemia of the mucous membranes. This species can also be involved in the transmission of Theileria, Babesia spp. as well as Anaplasma marginale.

Hyalomma aegyptium

Infects tortoises in southern Europe and southwest Asia as well as lizards and occasionally dogs and horses. However this tick is being spread around the globe by the increasing pet trade in tortoises.

References

• http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/boophilus_microplus.pdf