– Millions of migratory birds come to the country every quarter of a year, and they bring such ticks with them, says Snorre Stuen. He is a professor at the Norwegian Veterinary College and has been researching ticks for 35 years. The hunting tick is an example of this. The tick was detected for the first time in Norway last autumn. It is common in southern Europe and especially in Turkey. Scientists are not entirely sure how many of it there are, because it must be hot for it to survive. Hunting for you And the name comes for a reason. – It’s chasing you and running after you. In contrast: The usual forest tick is waiting for you out in the terrain, says Stuen. This is what the hunting tick looks like. It is three times as big as the normal forest tick. Last autumn, it was found on a mammal in Norway for the first time, then on a horse in Vestby municipality. Photo: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS – The tick has between one eye. We do not know how well he sees, but he observes with temperature, CO₂ and movements. If he discovers you as something he can suck blood from, he will feel for you. To survive, they need a warmer climate than the normal forest tick, for example at least 15 degrees. The tick itself is not dangerous, but the insect can carry viruses that can be serious and deadly, the professor says. It is already known that we can get TBE virus or Lyme disease (external links) from tick bites. There are already 10–15 tick species in the country. Stuen now encourages those who ring birds and such to collect and send in ticks. – The hunting tick is in most cases found on horseback. It has to do with the fact that those who have horses do things and brush them, and soleis are easier to find ticks. But also those who have a dog should take care of and possibly send in ticks. New climate = new ticks and new viruses Randi Eikeland has a doctorate and is a specialist in neurology at the Ticks Center. They are a national competence service under the Ministry of Health and publish information about ticks and the diseases the animals can spread. Randi Eikeland. Photo: Nasonal competence service for tick-borne diseases Next week there will be a tick conference in Kristiansand. Researchers come from Denmark, Germany and Sweden, among others. Every year, the tick center receives around 200,000 hits on its website from people who have questions about ticks. – If you get new types of ticks or just a new type of climate, you can get new viruses and infectious substances, says Eikeland. And the tick can get other types of infectious substances if it gets a different climate, she says. In Finland, the forest tick, the most common we also have in Norway, has recently acquired new types of infectious agents. The same applies to other microorganisms that carry with them infection and disease that is dependent on the climate, not just ticks as animals. – I do not think there is any imminent danger to the net now, but should it be very hot and good here, mosquitoes in Norway can get malaria and establish themselves, she says. In a box or on alcohol The living room encourages people to pay special attention to ticks that are larger than one expects to see. Photo: Johan Mihle Laugaland / news – What do I do? Put it in an envelope, on alcohol – what is the recipe? – Try to take care of him. Put it in a box, or on liquor if you have it available, and send it to me. The professor is interested in learning what species are moving in Norway this summer and what infectious substances they can carry with them.
ttn-69
Hunting ticks and other species come to Norway with new viruses and diseases – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
