BIOECOLOGY OF TICKS CAUSING THE MOST IMPO RTANT PATHOLOGY IN FRANCE

Ticks transmit many pathogens due to their hemophagic behavior during the 3 stages of their development. The principal tick-borne diseases i n France are carried by 4 species. Argas reflexus lives in close proxi mity to pigeons. Ixodes ricinus is found in humid environments, partic ularly forests. Dermacentor reticulatus is found in a wide variety of habitats, such as degraded urban and suburban environments and, in rur al environment, places such as prairies, heath... Rhipicephalus sangui neus, totally adapted to canine hosts on which all 3 development stage s take place, is found mostly in the south Mediterranean ans Southern- West.