Biochemical perspectives on paralysis and other forms of toxicoses caused by ticks

• Published in: Parasitology Vol. 129; no. S1; pp. S95 - S111
• Main Authors: MANS, B. J., GOTHE, R., NEITZ, A. W. H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.10.2004
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Benign; Biological Evolution; Evolution; Humans; Ixodidae; Molecular Sequence Data; Paralysis; Parasites; Protease Inhibitors - metabolism; Survival; tick paralysis; Tick Paralysis - epidemiology; Tick Paralysis - etiology; Tick Paralysis - parasitology; Tick Toxicoses - epidemiology; Tick Toxicoses - etiology; Tick Toxicoses - parasitology; Ticks - classification; Ticks - physiology; toxicoses; Toxins; Toxins, Biological - chemistry; Toxins, Biological - genetics; Toxins, Biological - physiology; Evolution; tick paralysis; toxicoses; toxins
• ISSN: 0031-1820; 1469-8161
• DOI: 10.1017/S0031182003004670

Tick toxicoses, of which paralysis is the most widespread and dominant form, are important elements of pathogenesis induced by ticks. Tick paralysis is the most widespread and dominant form of tick toxicoses. Non-paralytic forms of tick toxicoses do occur and evidence suggests that these forms of toxicoses are not evolutionary related. While functional significance has been suggested for tick toxins, the advantages for tick survival in general are not clear. This review considers the molecular nature of tick toxins, the possibility that tick toxins have originated more than once independently and whether these toxins could have unrecognized benign functions.