kullancs

Kullancs is the Hungarian term for ticks, small arachnids that are obligate ectoparasites of vertebrates. They feed on the blood of mammals, birds, and reptiles and can occur in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and leaf litter.

Ticks are divided into hard ticks (Ixodidae) and soft ticks (Argasidae). Hard ticks typically attach to a host for extended feeding, while soft ticks feed briefly and may feed multiple times. They undergo four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. Most species require a blood meal at each stage to molt to the next stage, and many species feed on different hosts across life stages.

Habitat and behavior: Ticks are common where humidity is adequate for their survival and where hosts can be found. They employ a questing strategy, lying in wait on vegetation and grabbing onto passing animals or humans. Their distribution is broad in temperate regions and is influenced by climate, vegetation, and host availability.

Medical significance: Ticks can transmit a range of pathogens that cause diseases in humans and animals, including Lyme borreliosis, tick-borne encephalitis, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. Transmission typically requires several hours of attachment, though the exact time varies by pathogen and species. Public health concerns are greatest in regions with high tick activity and tick-borne disease prevalence.

Prevention and control: Protective clothing, repellents containing DEET or permethrin, and tick checks after outdoor activities help reduce risk. Prompt removal of attached ticks with fine-tipped forceps is recommended. In some areas, vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis is available. Landscape management around homes can reduce tick habitat.

Impact on animals and ecosystems: Ticks affect wildlife, domestic animals, and livestock as parasites and disease vectors, contributing to health and economic concerns while playing a role in broader ecosystem dynamics.