| Most of the 56 known
Argas
spp
are specific for birds or bats; a few parasitize wild terrestrial mammals or Galapagos giant tortoises. The species of importance in transmitting
Aegyptianella
pullorum
and
Borrelia
anserina
to poultry are
A
persicus
(many tropical and subtropical areas of the world),
A
arboreus
(much of Africa, including Egypt),
A
africolumbae
(tropical Africa),
A
walkerae
(southern Africa), and
A
miniatus
(South and Central America). Other species that infest poultry appear to transmit both
A
pullorum
and
B
anserina
. (See also
fowl ticks,
Fowl Ticks.) Tick paralysis is caused by feeding
A
persicus
,
A
arboreus
,
A
walkerae
,
A
miniatus
,
A
radiatus
, and
A
sanchezi
(USA). These and other
Argas
spp
can cause great irritation when feeding on humans. |
