L9: Tick Infestation Flashcards
ticks are a destructive group of ______ sucking parasitic arthropods
blood
when are ticks most abundant (Seasonally)?
spring and fall
but can be active all year round
T/F: Ticks are physically able to survive long periods between blood meals, up to several years!
T
tick are small, blood feeding _______ in the suborder lxodida
arachnids
what are the 2 tick families of greatest veterinary importance
ixodidae
argasidae
term for head of ticks
capitulum or gnathosoma
describe the general anatomy of ticks
head thorax and abdomen are fused
No mandible or antennae
describe the mouthparts of ticks
two chelicerae: cutting blades for laceration
one hypostome: barbed, penetrating sucking organ
two palps: accessory appendages
term for tick body
idiosoma
dorsoventrally flattened & they have 8 legs
what are spiracles
respiratory openings
what are festoons
grooves on the back margin of ticks
what is a scutum
dorsal shield
where do ticks have eyes
the sides of their body
these eyes can detect light, shadows or movement
what is transovarian transmission
disease organisms are passed from the adult female tick to her larvae through infection of her ovaries/eggs
what is transstadial transmission
infected female –> eggs –> infected larva –> infected lymph –> infection acquired by a nymph is carried through the molt and transmitted to the host on which the adult tick feeds
what are Argasidae
soft ticks
140 spcies
3 genera of Argasidae important in vetmed
- Argas
- Ornithodoros
- Otobius
- Carios (bats)
where do ascarids live
nests, burrows, buildings and sleeping places of their host animals
mostly in arid regions / drier habitats
Argasidae life stages
Egg (laid in several batches of hundreds)
larva (2 or more nymphal stages)
adult male and female
most argasid ticks undergo a _______-host life cycle
multi host
Argasid ticks have two or more ______ stages
nymphal
each stage requires a blood meal from a host
argasid ticks feed rapidly and then
leave their host to return to shelter areas
what do female argasids do after each feeding
lay a clutch of eggs
describe the physical characteristics of Argasid ticks
5-10mm, flattened, ovoid and yellow to reddish-brown
leathery, mammilated, wrinkled
mouthparts are on ventral surface
are Argasid ticks usually found on their hosts?
no they only attach for feeding, to find them look in the environment
where can Argasids be found in the US
areas along the Gulf of Mexico and Mexican border
Argas persius
fowl tick aka “blue bugs”
hosts of Argas persius
domestic fowl, several wild birds (ducks, geese, pigeons)
what disease do Argasid ticks transmit
Tick paralysis
Tick paralysis occurs from infestation with the larvae of ________ which can result in fatal flaccid paralysis of young chickens
Argas persicus
what are the physical characteristics of Ornithodoros spp
they are more globular, they lack a sharp lateral margin
the body is flattened when unfed
where areOrnithodoros spp found
- cracks and crannies of avian roosts and nests
- rodent burrows
- nesting places of large mammals
rodent parasite found in areas of the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Coast states
Ornithodoros hermsi
tick that is prevalent in California and Oregon that attacks deer and cattle
Ornithodoros coriaceus
what diseases are transmitted by Ornithodoros spp
Pajaroellobacter abortibovis epizootic bovine abortion
*Borrelia spp *relapsing fever spirochetes
one host ticks can transmit disease organisms by ______ transmission
transovarial
2 or 3 host ticks can transmit disease organisms via _____ transmission
transstadial
what is a one host tick
species that complete both molts (larva to nymph, nymph to adult) without leaving the host
what are two host ticks
an engorged nymph drops off the host to molt
what are 3 host ticks
enorged larvae and nymphs drop off to molt
2 species of Ixodes to know
Ixodes scapularis
Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes scapularis
deer tick or blacklegged tick
Ixodes pacificus
western blacklegged tick
prevalent in Western USA
what is the main host of Ixodes scapularis
white tailed deer
where are Ixodes scapularis prevalent geographically
eastern and northern central USA
what is the main host of Ixodes pacificus
Lizards and small mammals
western blacklegged tick
Ixodes are ____-host ticks
3
physical characteristics of Ixodes
- inornate scutum
- anterior anal groove
- lack festoons
physical characteristics of Rhipicephalus
- inornate scutum
- hexagonal basis capitula
- have festoons
two important species of Rhipicephalus
Rhipicephalus sanguineus (brown dog tick)
Rhipicephalus annulatus (cattle tick)
what species of tick is the hexagonal basis capitula characteristic of ?
Rhipicephalus
main host of Rhipicephalus sanguineus
dogs, Brown dog tick
primary host of Rhipicephalus annulatus
domestic animals
R. sanguineus is a ____ host tick
three
R. annulatus is a ____ host tick
one
disease transmitted by R. annulatus
Babesia bovis = Bovine piroplasmosis
disease transmitted by R. sanguineus
Babesia canis = canine piroplasmosis
where is R. sanguineus prevalent geographically?
worldwide distribution
where is R. annulatus prevalent geographically?
tropical/subtropical areas
R. sanguineus (brown dog tick)
what is the most implicated genus of ticks causing tick paralysis in the US?
Dermacentor
Dermacentor ticks are ______ host ticks
three
physical characteristics of Dermacentor ticks
- Ornate scutum
- retangular basis capitula
- have festoons
Dermacentor andersoni
Rock Mtn Wood Tick
Rocky Mtn Region
primary hosts for Dermacentor andersoni
Dogs and small mammals
primary hosts for Dermacentor variabilis
dogs, other mammals
Dermacentor variabilis
american dog tick
where is Dermacentor variabilis prevalent geographically?
Eastern half and West coast of USA
Ambylomma are _____-host ticks
three
defining physical characteristics of Amblyomma
- ornate scutum
- mouthparts longer than basis capitula
- have festoons
Ambylomma americanum
Lone Star Tick
primary host of Ambylomma americanum
white tailed deer
geographical location of Ambylomma americanum
southeastern coastal states in US
disease transmitted by Ambylomma americanum
Cytauxzoon felis fatal protozoal disease of cat
Amblyomma macultatum
Gulf coast tick
primary host of Amblyomma macultatum
small rodents, birds, mammals
disease transmitted by Amblyomma macultatum
Hepatozoon americanum (american hepatozoonosis)
Haemaphysalis are _____-host ticks
three
physical characteristics of Haemaphysalis
- inornate scutum
- palpi have laterally flattened second segment
Haemaphysalis leporispalustris
rabbit tick
what disease does Haemaphysalis leporispalustris transmit
Theileria spp. protozoal disease of small and large ruminants
what is tick toxicosis
ascending paralysis caused by absorption of toxins from saliva of engorging female ticks
clinical importance of ticks
- tick toxicosis
- bite wounds
- blood loss
- ill thrift (tick worry)
- red meat allergy in humans
