The season of tick activity, which runs from spring to late fall, has already begun. In Poland, there are 19 species of these parasites that feed on the blood of humans and animals. Although they drink much more blood than, for example, mosquitoes, their notoriety is mainly due to the fact that they are the carriers of many pathogens dangerous to health (e.g. tick-borne encephalitis virus or Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria), which they transmit by stabbing. That is why it is so important to remove the tick from the skin as quickly and efficiently as possible. French veterinarian Dr. Denis Heitz talks about a method developed a few years ago for efficient removal of parasites.
- Dr. Denis Heitz used his experience and developed a method with which a tick can be quickly and safely removed from the skin
- The tool allows you to remove the tick without squeezing it, thus reducing the risk of infected secretions entering the blood
- The expert warns what are the worst ways to pull out the ticks
- You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page
Monika Zieleniewska, MedTvoiLokony: What made you start looking for ways to remove ticks?
Dr Denis Heitz: I worked for many years as a veterinarian in the city of Oyonnax, France. I not only dealt with domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, but also farm animals – horses, cows and sheep, and I still had to remove ticks … and the tools available at that time did not do the best job. So I removed these ticks, and after a few days the owner brought the animal back, because there were some changes, redness or even symptoms of the disease on its skin.
How did you come up with the idea of your method?
As already mentioned, the tools with which I pulled out the forceps, e.g. tweezers, caused a lot of inconvenience. At the time of removal, they compressed the body of the parasite, causing it to vomit saliva and body fluids into the host’s skin. It very often happened that the tick was crushed or torn apart, and then the mouth part was left in the skin at the injection site. In addition, the removal itself was painful for the animal. Pulling the skin, mostly with hair, provoked a defensive reaction, sometimes I was scratched or even bitten.
After analyzing the anatomy of the tick, I came to the conclusion that a slotted tool would be the best for grasping it without squeezing it at the same time. The V-shaped slit will accommodate any tick size. Rotation, on the other hand, seemed to me to be the most effective way to get rid of it effortlessly, and therefore without pain.
Exactly. Where does this turn come from?
The tick introduces a part of its mouth apparatus into the skin, the so-called snout, technically known as a hypostome. The hypostom is covered with small spikes that are placed in the opposite direction to the puncture so that the tick can easily insert it into the skin. When pulling out, we also pull the snout upwards, and then the spines stick harder into the tissue and fix it even more in the host’s organism. If it were not for this clever mechanism, every wild animal, because they are the main hosts of ticks, would easily get rid of the parasite, e.g. by rubbing against tree trunks.
My Polish friends say that the name of this arachnid in their language perfectly illustrates its method of operation – the tick simply sticks in the skin. Meanwhile, the rotational movement displaces the spikes in the horizontal plane and these, instead of digging into the skin harder, wrap around the axis of the hypostome. So neutralized without resistance, they slide out of the skin along with the entire mouthpiece. This is purely mechanical and applies to all types of spikes in the opposite direction to the drive.
There is also the question of where the tick was caught.
This is also very important. If we grab it by the abdomen, especially if the tick has already been tight, and we force it to rotate, we may tear it apart. On the other hand, if we apply the force close to the skin, we will direct it directly on the hypostome, making the parasite protrude without any problems.
I have heard recommendations that the tick should never be turned, but for what reason? I have been asking this question for 20 years and have never received a convincing answer.
And why does the slit shape resemble the letter V?
It is easiest to immobilize the tick in such a crack. Of course, you also need a handle to be able to do the rotation.
I made my first tool for removing ticks from a chipped nail. It wasn’t perfect, but it was much better than the tweezers. Thanks to him, I got confirmation that I am going in the right direction. Unfortunately, the nail was imprecise. Years later, I have a tool whose shape is the optimal compromise between the technical requirements (immobilization of the tick in the V-shaped fork, plus a handle that facilitates turning) and ease of use. It is made of plastic, so you can get a precise gap. We chose the right material, resistant to disinfectants, and even quite high temperatures, up to approx. 140 degrees C. I live in the Jura region, in the so-called Plastic Valley, where most of the local industry is involved in the production of plastics, so I had contractors in place.
The method of removing ticks undoubtedly matters, and what may result in incorrect performance of this operation?
Of course, it matters, because we strive to ensure that as few pathogens as possible in the saliva or intestinal contents of the tick get into our body, so it should stay in the skin as short as possible. Meanwhile, removing it without proper knowledge, we squeeze into ourselves large amounts of its body fluids. The result is the same as if the parasite remained in the skin for hours, even days. Likewise, when ruptured during extraction, these fluids will flood the injection site – the open gate into our bloodstream.
What methods of removing ticks do you consider harmful?
These are all the ways in which more pathogens enter our body, which increases the risk of infection. Such methods include all methods of strangling a tick – lubricating it with fat, sunscreen, putting to sleep, e.g. with ether. This causes the suffocating parasite to vomit, and we already know what this leads to.
Then we have the previously mentioned squeezing or crushing – tweezers, pliers, etc. All these devices can only pull the tick, which carries a high risk of tearing it apart. Any tools for prying, pushing out, etc. increase the risk of tearing the abdomen. I’ve even come across ideas to cut it with a razor! You shouldn’t pick at the tick at all. Removal of it should be quick and efficient.
Ideally, you should avoid being bitten by a tick. For this purpose, use Tick Remedies, which you can find at attractive prices on Medonet Market. We recommend, for example, the Sanity forceps set (liquid repellent + removal tool) currently available on sale.
So how to proceed correctly?
It’s actually very simple. We don’t have to look for a doctor or go to the emergency room. We prepare disposable gloves, a tick remover and a disinfectant. Always remove the tick with gloves. We carefully disinfect the injection site and the instrument we use. After removing another tick – disinfection again.
Multiple bites are rare in humans, but more often in animals. Disinfection between one tick and another must not be forgotten. The device can also be put into boiling water and boiled, and sterilized in an autoclave in doctor’s offices. Dispose of the arachnid in a clean, safe way, taking care not to get your fingers contaminated – it must not be crushed. Do not take off your gloves and preferably never touch it with your bare fingers. It is best to seal the removed tick carefully in a half-folded adhesive tape. We can simply throw the neutralized one into the trash.
- For safe removal of ticks from the body, you can order Mustico Tick-Off Forceps.
Is there a difference in how ticks are removed in humans and animals?
Basically there aren’t many differences. The tick sticks into the skin of humans and animals in the same way. The only differences are that in animals we have more or less dense hair, and in humans the skin is smooth. In humans, it is also easier to notice the early stages of ticks – larvae and nymphs, which are unlikely to be seen in animal hair. The possible tick-borne diseases can also be different.
- You can buy a mail-order genetic test for tick-borne infections at Medonet Market. It consists in examining the genetic material, i.e. a tick, to check whether it is a carrier of bacteria that are dangerous to humans
How can you tell if the tick has been properly removed?
First, after removing the tick, carefully inspect the injection site and thoroughly disinfect it. If we see tiny black or brown fragments in it, it is very possible that some of the mouthparts remained in the skin, which had been torn apart during removal. We can also view the removed tick through a solid magnifying glass and check if its hypostome is intact. Again, a tick removed correctly means – no squeezing, choking, tearing; otherwise, we increase the risk of its body fluids being returned to the host’s skin and blood.
Can we use popular tweezers to get rid of the parasite?
The recommendation to catch the tick with tweezers at the level of the skin and remove it without squeezing is a myth. The vast majority of forceps are too small in relation to the tweezers we usually have. In the past, a tick was treated like a splinter and removed with tweezers, but we found it to be a carrier of many diseases. We now know where pathogens are located in his body, so we know that he absolutely must not be squeezed. If anything, use fine-tipped tweezers, but to be honest, even the tips of the surgical tweezers are too thick.
To catch the body of a tick, such as a nymph, the tips of the tweezers would have to be as thick as a hair, and even such tweezers would put pressure on the tick’s salivary glands, where tick-borne encephalitis viruses (TBE) reside.
Is it always necessary to remove the tick as soon as possible, or are there any circumstances when it is better to leave it alone?
Always remove the tick. Always! If we wait or decide to leave it to drop off by itself, we greatly increase the risk of disease transmission. It must be remembered that pathogenic microorganisms – viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa – live in the salivary glands or the gastrointestinal tract of the tick. We know that the tick’s body fluids and the host’s blood are regularly exchanged during their blood meal, which can last up to several days. To put it simply: the tick sucks blood and returns its body fluids. Consequently, the longer it is likely to do so, the higher the risk of infection.
What to do if something went wrong during removal and a tick fragment remains in the skin?
We have two options. We can remove the residue with a needle and then disinfect the place. It would also be a good idea to ask a qualified person for help: a doctor or a nurse. The second option is thorough disinfection of the injection site and regular observation. Usually the place dries up and what is left comes off by itself, like a crust.
However, sometimes the skin scarifies over the left hypostome, enclosing it in a lump called a foreign body granuloma that may persist for years but will not develop from a tick-borne disease.
By the way, I will mention one of the more fantastic theories, according to which the tick grows back from what is left in the skin. This is complete nonsense, of course.
After removing the tick, should I take any medications, maybe antibiotics?
It depends on several factors. For example, the sanitary situation of a given country or region. Whether we are in an endemic region or not.
The next question – how long did the tick stay in the skin, what are the local medical recommendations. Remember never to do anything on your own or on the advice of a neighbor! Only a doctor can recommend antibiotic therapy, and I warn you against taking antibiotics just in case.
And when should you go to the doctor?
If we are in the endemic zone of TBE, it would be prudent to consult a doctor immediately. If after a few days we notice any symptoms, e.g. flu, increased temperature, fever, weakness or a migratory erythema (then we are sure that it is Lyme disease), immediate medical consultation is obligatory.
Are the symptoms of tick-borne diseases different in humans and animals?
Yes. Diseases and symptoms vary. Differences may depend on the country and even the region within that country. We are seeing it in France.
During the first weeks after a tick bite, observation is the only way to catch the early symptoms of a tick-borne disease, because the test performed at that time will not show anything. Vigilance and observation remain. Symptoms do not appear immediately, they differ in the time of their occurrence. However, they alert us first and should not be ignored, e.g. in the case of Lyme disease, the later we take steps, the more difficult it will be to cure the disease.
With animals, if your pet becomes lethargic, refuses to drink, doesn’t feel like walking or playing, instead of waiting and wondering what’s wrong with it, go to the vet immediately. For both humans and animals, the prognosis is directly related to the earliest possible diagnosis and treatment.
is a doctor of veterinary medicine, a graduate of the Veterinary College in Lyon and president of the H3D company. In 1995, he developed a method of removing ticks, the so-called slot plus rotary movement, protected by an international patent until 2016, and tools for its use.