Warning from Anatomist Asst. Prof. Mehmet KARTAL: Tick-Borne Diseases Remain a Serious Threat

Faculty of Health Sciences - sbf@gelisim.edu.tr

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Faculty of Health Sciences - sbf@gelisim.edu.tr

10 July 2025 Thursday

Warning from Anatomist Asst. Prof. Mehmet KARTAL: Tick-Borne Diseases Remain a Serious Threat

In the first six months of 2025, tick bite cases reported in our country have once again brought the public health significance of zoonotic diseases to the agenda. In addition to the 7,801 cases reported in the media, the fact that 13 of these resulted in death clearly demonstrates the risk posed by tick-borne infections. These cases, which increase during the spring and summer months, directly affect not only individual health but also agricultural production, livestock, and rural life.

Ticks are arthropods that are highly sensitive to environmental stimuli and can detect their hosts through heat, humidity, and vibration. Although they cannot fly or jump, they can easily attach to skin, clothing, or fur from their surroundings. These features make them effective transmission vectors not only in personal spaces but also in animal shelters, pasturelands, and rural environments.

Diseases such as Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) often progress asymptomatically in animals, but in humans, they can cause serious symptoms such as high fever, muscle pain, coagulation disorders, and internal bleeding. First reported in Turkey in 2002, this disease has become endemic especially in provinces like Giresun, Sivas, Tokat, Amasya, and Çorum; in recent years, it has resurfaced with a rise in cases. The fact that the Hyalomma marginatum tick species—which carries the disease—can be found across all regions of the country indicates that the risk should be evaluated on a national rather than regional scale.

Scientifically-Based Prevention Methods

Based on field experience and knowledge, several essential practices have emerged to protect both animal and public health in the fight against ticks:

Regular acaricide applications should be conducted approximately every 25 days on domestic animals, using non-residual, food-safe products.
Environmental arrangements such as plowing pastures and removing weeds are supportive in reducing tick habitats.
Random chemical applications should be avoided, with care taken to protect environmental and ecological balance.
Government-supported disinfestation policies should be developed for small-scale livestock enterprises.
Although scientific studies on tick vaccines have not yet been put into practice, they represent promising developments for the future.

Individual Protection Measures

For individuals living in or visiting rural or nature-risk areas, the following protection methods are recommended:

Wearing light-colored, long-sleeved clothing that covers the body,
Tucking pant legs into socks,
Using tick repellents containing DEET, icaridin, or permethrin,
Performing thorough body checks after nature walks or animal contact, especially behind the ears, neck, groin, and behind the knees.

If a tick has attached to the body, it should be removed without direct contact, using tweezers or cloth by gripping it as close to the skin as possible and pulling it out without twisting. Afterwards, one should visit the nearest healthcare facility. In case of systemic symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, or fatigue, medical help should be sought without delay.

Asst. Prof. Mehmet KARTAL

Anatomist – Istanbul Gelişim University

Faculty of Health Sciences, Head of the Department of Perfusion