Tick Paralysis Caused by Argas persicus Infestation in Domestic Chickens: A Case Report

Abstract

Toxicosis induced by ticks primarily causes tick paralysis. Affected animals develop ascending flaccid paralysis due to the paralytic neurotoxin’s effect on the synaptic space of the neuromuscular junction. This condition, if left untreated for a longer period, may lead to death due to paralysis of the respiratory muscles. In a one-year-old domestic chicken with good general condition and respiration, symptoms of complete flaccid paralysis of legs and wings were observed. Eight ticks were removed from the bird’s body and referred to the parasitology laboratory. The ectoparasite treatment was performed with ivermectin. Within a week after treatment, the clinical symptoms had completely disappeared. By analyzing the morphological characteristics of the tick, the larval stage of Argas persicus ticks was identified. Additionally, to complete the differential diagnosis, conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) determined that the blood spirochete Borrelia anserina was not present in the completely homogeneous extract of the ticks. Since the presence of a small number of external parasites can have serious consequences, like paralysis and death, this study highlights the importance of precise clinical examination in addition to parasitological and paraclinical investigations, for the successful diagnosis and treatment of this disease. While this complication receives significantly more attention in veterinary medicine, it is also important from the perspective of zoonotic diseases, as it can occur in a similar manner in humans. Therefore, professionals in human medicine should also be aware of this complication.