Soft ticks (Argasidae) in the urban areas

The infectious diseases caused by the soft tick transmitted pathogens are becoming more frequent in recent years and pose a serious global health problem. In Europe, the most important pathogens transmitted by the soft ticks are viruses (CCHF virus, ASFV, Baku virus) and bacteria, commonly from Borrelia genus. In the majority of European countries, the presence of African pig virus (ASFV) has been registered as the most frequent soft tick borne viral disease. The circulation and survival of this, for pigs deadly virus, has been associated with several argasid species of the genus Ornithodoros. Currently, the spread of ASFV from the Caucasus has been reported in European countries. The soft tick species, Argas reflexus and Argas persicus, are recorded with high population densities in many European cities. A. reflexus has been registered in the apartments mainly after pigeon displacing from the attics or after the residential building reconstructions. Usually, the first attacks on people are registered on higher floors, near lifts and attics. If the argsid presence is detected within residential buildings and other objects, several steps must be taken. First, the control of birds (pigeons), which serve as a primary host of these tick species, should be conducted and, if necessary, their displacing from the residential buildings. Subsequently, it is necessary to prevent the re-entry of the birds into the buildings, remove the nests and apply a chemical treatment to all the cracks and hollows in which all soft tick developmental stages could be potentially found. The soft tick control is extremely complex and based on the field experience. There is no effective method for soft tick longterm control, and many alternative methods require further research. So far, there is no ideal solution for soft tick control. Therefore, an integrated approach that combines several different strategies and methods is probably the most effective way of controlling the number of these organisms in order to prevent the occurence and development of human and animal diseases.