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Also known as the Red sheep tick

Hosts

Cattle, sheep, goat, horse, deer, rabbit, humans

 

Distribution

Widespread in Europe, southern Scandinavia, in the UK - south east England and west coast of Wales

Haemaphysalis punctata shows no little environmental specificity when compared to other species of tick, it can be found in areas of cold/humidity (e.g. UK coasts) and semi-desert areas (e.g. Central Asia).

 

Pathogenesis

Cattle: Babesia major, Babesia bigemina, Theileria mutans, Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma centrale

Sheep: Babesia motasi, Theileria ovis

 Other pathogens and disease that have been  associated with H. punctata include:

Tick paralysis

Tick Borne Encephalitis virus

Tribec virus

Bhanja virus

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus

Babesia bovis

Theileria recondita

Coxiella burneti

Francisella tularensis

 

Description

Adult female dorsal features

  • Extension of article ii of palp small
  • Spur of article ii of palp absent
  • Lateral groove encloses festoon 3
  • Trochanter I with a blade-like process
  • Overall length of unfed female is 3.0mm-3.5mm
  • Length of engorged female can measure up to 10mm

H. punctata female dorsal 0 

H. punctata female dorsal g 0 

Adult female dorsal view and adult female close up of gnathosoma. (Click on pictures for a close up)

Adult female ventral features

  • Palp article 3 lacks a ventral spur
  • Coxae I-III: medium-sized internal spurs
  • Coxae IV: internal spur is distinct

H. punctata female ventral 0 

H. punctata female ventral g 0 

Adult female ventral view and adult female close up of coxae/ventral gnathosoma. (Click on pictures for a close up)

Adult male dorsal features

  • Article ii of palps has a small lateral extension
  • Spur of article ii of palp absent
  • Lateral groove encloses festoon 2
  • Cornua is short
  • Overall length of male is 2.8mm-3.2mm

H. punctata male dorsal 0 

H. punctata male dorsal g 0 

Adult male dorsal view and adult male close up of gnathosoma. (Click on pictures for a close up)

Adult male ventral features

  • Coxae IV: long internal spur
  • Coxae I-III: short internal spurs
  • Palp article 3 lacks a ventral spur

H. punctata male ventral 0 

H. punctata male ventral g 0 

Adult male ventral view and adult male close up of coxae/ventral gnathosoma. (Click on pictures for a close up)

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