By Bill Conroy BScAgr (Syd)
Tick numbers in the Northern Beaches higher than usual over Summer and into Autumn, particularly larval stages.
The geographic distribution of paralysis tick is extending through parts of south western Victoria and into Adelaide suburbs.
Ticks continue to cause problems for people and their companion animals. In some areas, particularly the Northern Beaches of Sydney, the ticks have a continuous presence throughout the year.
After a brief period of respite during dry weather the tick larvae are hatching, particularly at this time of year. You can expect multiple tick bites if you fail to protect yourself.
Editors note:
It is not unusual for people to have hundreds of tiny ticks on them from a single episode of tick attack. This is really difficult to manage when children are the victims. We suggest bathing for half an hour with a cup of bicarb-soda in the water. Ticks become 'desiccated' and will drop off or they are at least much easier to remove. Bicarb-soda may also ease the itch.
Warning. We advise against using any chemical to kill attached ticks. Doing so will irritate the tick so increase the risk of it injecting saliva/stomach contents which may contain infectious organisms (eg Spotted Fever) and allergens. As we say on the Tickalert Card remove the tick as soon as possible, with fine-pointed tweezers or a tick remover. Don't squeeze the body of the tick - the salivary glands are in the body. Wash your hands after removing ticks and try not to touch them. Some people advocate the wearing of gloves.
If you have ever suffered severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) following tick bite, go to a medical centre to have the tick removed. If you suffer breathing difficulty or severe swelling, seek medical help immediately.
Some TAGS members have reported favourably on the new product Mosi-guard™. It appears to be effective as a tick repellent. It also makes claims to anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial benefits. It's active ingredient is based on an extract of the Lemon-scented Eucalyptus tree (Corymbia citriodora).
Bill warned us about bad tick problems this year, exacerbated by the winter drought. Ticks in all stages of development have been seen over the last few months. We expect to see larval ticks in late Summer-Autumn and adults in Spring.
Large tick populations are reported in many suburbs that were free of ticks for decades until recently. When bushland is burnt (or cleared) the ticks are carried by their animal hosts to unburnt or cleared areas, very often into private gardens that are nearby. Ticks have moved east with fauna from western Pittwater. Ticks are now a problem in eastern Warriewood-Narrabeen, parts of French's Forest, north and south Turramurra, Terrey Hills and Ingleside - tick territory is expanding. There is a disturbed pattern in tick-predator populations (predators include small native birds, wasps and large beetles.
Bill mentioned that foxes are great hosts for ticks. He is getting reports of tick problems from Ferntree Gully in Victoria and liases with vets from the area.
In Pittwater there have been cases of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) following tick bite. It is important to seek urgent medical attention if you have severe swelling and breathing problems. If you have a history of severe allergic reactions you should seek medical attention for removal of ticks.
Prevention is better than cure so avoid tick bite by using personal repellents.
Although the El Nino appears to have departed, at least for the time being, abnormal weather has continued in 2003, with droughty winter, spring and early summer periods throughout eastern Australia.
Paralysis Tick Ixodes holocyclus is obviously enjoying the environmental consequences and has continued to give evidence of expanding and consolidating its areas of occupation. There are signs of its expansion in association with human imparts in cooler tablelands areas and southward to Victoria and Tasmania.
The weather conditions appear to have caused a breakdown in the usual cycle of reproduction of Ixodes holocyclus, so that throughout the year all three phases in the life cycle have been evident in collections. This does not appear to do anything to reduce the efficiency of the gravid females as egg producers.
Through the good offices of Merial, the Ferntree Gully Veterinary Practice forwarded samples of adult paralysis tick taken from dogs in that area in late January. In conjunction with previous samples, it would appear that the species is now endemic in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne, after first appearing in East Gippsland about 25 years ago.
In 2003, some of the most active populations have been observed in coastal hinterland sections, particularly in Sydney's north where suburbs like Turramurra have been so heavily infested, that people have been moving out of retirement villages frustrated with being unable to enjoy gardening without being attacked.
The Brown Dog Tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) also showed signs of population
activity in the recent period. Two interesting cases referred by Merial
involved:
1. A Port Stephens family that moved to Canberra with a stopover at Maitland and
arrived with their pets and pot plants infested.
2. The same tick species has been active in the Enfield area, close to the
Sydney CBD where dogs using the Cooks River walking track were attacked, and
under house infestations occurred.
A group of volunteer fire cadets were attacked by Paralysis Tick while on an exercise based on the above hostel which is nestled in the bush on the edge of Ku ring gai National Park, west shore of Pittwater. Three of the cadets required referral to Mona Vale Hospital and one case where the tick had attached inside the ear canal had to be treated as serious.
I visited the hostel in the Christmas period and was accompanied by doctors Elizabeth Evans and Pip Lun of Merial, and was able to brief them on location protection and prevention. The staff of the hostel were also interviewed and briefed on stepping up preventive measures and reducing threats such as encroaching vegetation.
The hostel is frequently used by training groups and has a continuous stream of tourist visitors. It is accessed by ferry from Church Point.
Electronic repellent device is NOT endorsed by me.
At the Mite Y Fresh website my name was mentioned in association with material advertising an electronic repellent device. I wish to make it clear that I did not authorise the inclusion of my name in that material and that I do not endorse the product being advertised.