What do ticks do to animals? - briefly
Ticks embed their mouthparts into the host’s skin and feed on blood, causing irritation, anemia, and tissue damage. During feeding they can transmit bacteria, viruses, and protozoa that result in diseases such as Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis.
What do ticks do to animals? - in detail
Ticks attach to the skin of vertebrate hosts, pierce the epidermis with specialized mouthparts, and ingest blood. During feeding they inject saliva that contains anticoagulants, anti‑inflammatory agents, and immunomodulatory proteins, which facilitate prolonged attachment and reduce host detection.
The consequences for the animal include:
- Blood loss – repeated or heavy infestations can lead to anemia, reduced growth rates, and decreased reproductive output.
- Dermatitis – mechanical injury and saliva components cause localized inflammation, pruritus, and secondary bacterial infection.
- Pathogen transmission – ticks serve as vectors for a wide range of microorganisms, such as Borrelia spp. (Lyme disease), Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., and Babesia spp.; infection may result in fever, joint inflammation, hemolytic anemia, or organ failure.
- Immune suppression – salivary proteins interfere with host immune signaling, impairing the ability to mount effective responses against both the tick and transmitted pathogens.
- Behavioral changes – discomfort and systemic illness can alter feeding patterns, movement, and social interactions, affecting predator–prey dynamics and herd health.
In livestock, severe infestations reduce weight gain, milk production, and wool quality, leading to economic losses. In wildlife, tick‑borne diseases can influence population dynamics, especially when hosts lack prior exposure and immunity.
Control measures focus on habitat management, regular acaricide application, and vaccination against specific tick‑borne pathogens. Integrated strategies that combine chemical, biological, and environmental approaches provide the most sustainable reduction in tick‑related damage.