Ticks only transmit the bacteria that cause Lyme disease

False. Ticks are capable of transmitting several pathogenic organisms that can affect human and animal health. The pathogens they transmit depend on the genus and species of tick.

Ticks are ectoparasites (parasites that live on the exterior of their hosts) and as such their bite can causes some damage on human and animal skin; tick bites may cause tick paralysis, toxicoses and allergic reactions. Furthermore, ticks can transmit pathogenic organisms such as protozoa, viruses and bacteria, during their feeding (4, 5).

Apart from Borrelia, Ixodes ricinus, can transmit (6, 8, 9):

• Anaplasma phagocytophilum causing human granulocytic anaplasmosis;
• Rickettsia monacensis causing spotted fever rickettsiosis;
• Babesia divergens and Babesia microti responsible for babesiosis;
• the tick-borne encephalitis complex of viruses (including louping-ill virus);
• Francisella tularensis causing tularaemia, and others.