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