Tick bites in Japan

Abstract

Ticks are blood‐sucking ectoparasites belonging to the order Acarina, class Arachnida. In Japan, eight genera and 46 species are known. Tick bite patients frequently present to dermatology clinics. The main causative species of human tick bites are Ixodes persulcatus and Ixodes ovatus in northern to central Japan, and Amblyomma testudinarium and Haemaphysalis longicornis in western Japan. Tick bites often occur from April to September, particularly in May through July, consistent with the active period for ticks. Although erythema usually does not develop at the tick bite site, a small area of erythema may be seen in some cases. Occasionally, an erythema larger than 50 mm in diameter are formed at the bite site, known as tick‐associated rash illness. It is thought that the erythema is a delayed‐type allergic reaction to the substances in tick saliva. Repeated tick bites induce immunoglobulin E production against galactose‐1,3‐α‐galactose, one of the substances in tick saliva, which may trigger an immediate allergic reaction. The most reliable method to remove a tick sucking blood is en bloc resection of the tick and surrounding skin under local anesthesia. Insect repellent spray containing icaridin or DEET are effective to prevent ticks from attaching and tick‐borne infections. It is important to educate not only dermatologists but also the general public regarding tick bites.

Comparative mitogenomics elucidates the population genetic structure of Amblyomma testudinarium in Japan and a closely related Amblyomma species in Myanmar

“…In addition, intraspecies genetic differences within geographically distinct populations of ticks has been well established (Burnard & Shao, 2019 ; Mechai et al, 2013 ; Sakamoto et al, 2014 ). The current work is the first to assess the genetic diversity and population structure of A. testudinarium , which is one of the most widely distributed Amblyomma in East and Southeast Asia (Voltzit, 2002 ) and one of the main ticks that bite humans in Japan (Natsuaki, 2021 ). Our study is the second to use whole mitogenomes of multiple individuals of the same tick species to assess the genetic diversity based on the regional scale after the report on Ixodes ricinus in Italy (Carpi et al, 2016 ).…”

Molecular detection of Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) and Rickettsia spp. in hard ticks distributed in Tokachi District, eastern Hokkaido, Japan

“…Ixodes ovatus and I . persulcatus are the main causative species of human tick bites in Hokkaido to Honshu, northern to central Japan ( Natsuaki, 2021 ). Some human cases with H. japonica bites were found in Hokkaido and Honshu ( Yamauchi et al, 2010 ; Yamauchi & Nakatani, 2016 ; Sasaki et al, 2021 ).…”

Allergy to stings and bites from rare or locally important arthropods: worldwide distribution, available diagnostics, and treatment

“…Lyme disease).Amblyomma tick bites may cause local annular erythema of unclear pathogenesis known as Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI). 149 Mite and ticks bites can provoke itching and local hypersensitivity reactions such as papular urticaria and vesiculopapular eruptions thought to be due to immune reactions to salivary proteins. Also "summer penile syndrome" in children, is considered to be an immunologic hypersensitivity reaction to chigger bites.…”