[The interrelationships of ixodid ticks (Ixodidae) with the causative agents of transmissible vertebrate infections]

Abstract

The ixodid ticks are the vectors of several hundreds of agents of transmission diseases of vertebrates and human. This agents are represented by viruses, rickettsiae, bacteria, protozoans and filariae. For the majority of these agents the ticks are not only vectors, but also are intermediate or final hosts. In the system agent-tick the antagonistic relationships dominate, and therefore the agent is actually a parasite of its vector. A wide spectrum of parasitic relationships form the high pathogenicity and lethality of an agent for its vector to the fast and complete elimination of a microorganism in a tick could be observed within the system in question. Somewhat balanced type of relationships occurs most often, thus pathogen agent causes a minimal damage to the tick-vectors and could stay in their organism and hold a capability of the transmission to the vertebrate hosts and within the population of ticks.