Ticks

Question 1

What is the family of hard and soft ticks called?

Answer 1

Ixodidae, Argasidae

Question 2

General characteristics of hard ticks

Answer 2

3 host life cycle, each life stage must feed to molt to the next stage, mating occurs on host except for Ixodes, females engorge and drop off, larva has 6 legs and the rest have 8, ticks find hosts by questing

Question 3

Amblyomma americanum

Answer 3

Chelicerca cut the skin, has hypostome and secrete cementum to stay attached to host. Lone star tick. From texas to nebraska and east. Woodland habitats. Linked to the distribution of white tailed deer. Nymphs recognized as small brown round. Can occur in massive numbers that dog needs transfusions. ONLY one to do that. Transmits cytauxzoonosis, ehrlichia, tularemia, RMSF, Lyme-dz like infection, red meat allergy

Question 4

Dermacentor variabilis

Answer 4

mostly from center of us to the east. American dog tick. grassy meadows, transmits RMSF, tularemia, tick paralysis, cytauxzoonosis

Question 5

Dermacentor andersoni

Answer 5

NW united states. Wood tick. Transmits RMSF, tulaemia, tick paralysis, possibly cytauxzoonosis

Question 6

Dermacentor occidentalis

Answer 6

Pacific Coast tick, widely distributed in california, transmits RMSF.

Question 7

Amblyomma maculatum

Answer 7

Gulf Coast Tick, not dependent on white tailed deer, carries hepatozoon americanum

Question 8

Ixodes scapularis

Answer 8

Black legged tick, Deer Tick, Lyme disease tick, Midwest, Eastern, southeastern US, woodland habitats, linked to white tailed deer. Nymphs around ear margins and eye lids in cats, adults on dogs. Carry lyme disease, anaplasma, human babesia

Question 9

Ixodes pacificus

Answer 9

Western Black legged tick, takes 2.5 years for life cycle, adults on large mammals, carry Lyme disease, anaplasma, human babesia

Question 10

Rhipicephalus sanguineus

Answer 10

Brown Dog tick, all life stages prefer dogs, eggs laid in crevices, ONLY tick in US to inhabit buildings, can complete life cycle in 3 months. Carry Ehrlichia and babesia canis, anaplasma, RMSF in Arizona

Question 11

General characteristics of soft ticks

Answer 11

No cementum, soft bodies, rapid feeders,

Question 12

Otobius megnini

Answer 12

Spinose ear tick, drier parts of the US like south, no disease transmission. Unique-adults not parasitic, larvae feed on ear and molt on host,

Question 13

Treatment of ticks

Answer 13

Acaracides that kill/repel as many and as fast as possible, no tick product 100%. Afoxolaner, fluralaner, sarolaner are all oral for dogs. DO NOT use permethrin or amitraz in cats, use fluralaner or fipronil not orally

Question 14

Control of ticks in the yard

Answer 14

Cyfluthrin or bifenthrin for outdoors. Clear underbrush, weeds, trim trees. Located within 3 yards of perimeter. Pet ownership does not increase chance of getting disease