Ticks

Question 1

What is the order of ticks?

Answer 1

Metastigmata

Question 2

What are the 3 ticks of veterinary importance?

Answer 2

Ixodes ricinus, dermacentor reticulatis and rhipicephalus sanguineas

Question 3

What are the hosts of ixodes ricinus?

Answer 3

Mouse
Rabbit
Sheep/cattle/deer

Question 4

When is ixodes ricinus most active?

Answer 4

Spring/summer

Question 5

What is the soil threshold temp for ixodes ricinus?

Answer 5

6-8 degrees

Question 6

What is the optimal temperature for ixodes ricinus?

Answer 6

17-20 degrees

Question 7

What is the desired relative humidity for ixodes ricinus?

Answer 7

80%

Question 8

What is the height of each life stage of ixodes ricinus in the surrounding vegetation?

Answer 8

0. 2m = larvae
1. 5m = nymph
2. 8m = adults

Question 9

What is the lifecycle of ixodes ricinus?

Answer 9

Mouse -> larvae moults to nymph -> rabbit -> sheep/cattle/deer.
When an adult, it drops to the ground to infect the next host.

Question 10

How many hosts does dermacentor reticulatis have? What are these hosts?

Answer 10

3

Cats, dogs and wild mammals

Question 11

What disease is transmitted by dermacentor reticulatis?

Answer 11

Babesia canis

Question 12

How long does it take for disease to be transmitted by dermacentor reticulatis?

Answer 12

48-72 hours

Question 13

What are the ley terms for dermacentor reticulatis?

Answer 13

Marsh tick
Meadow tick
Ornate cow tick

Question 14

What diseases are transmitted by rhipicephalus sanguineas?

Answer 14

Babesia canis
Hepatozoan canis
Ehrlich

Question 15

What is the length of the life cycle of dermacentor reticulatis?

Answer 15

1 year

Question 16

What is the length of diapause of rhipicephalus sanguineas?

Answer 16

In cold environments, <1 year

Question 17

What is the ideal environment for rhipicephalus sanguineas?

Answer 17

Warm temperature and a low humidity.

So is common in heated kennels and houses.

Question 18

What is lyme disease?

Answer 18

A disease caused by Borrelia burgdorfei, which is a bacterium.
16-24 hours of blood sucking is required prior to being infected.
Transmitted through an infected tick bite.

Question 19

What is louping-ill disease?

Answer 19

Infectious ovine encephalomyelitis (flavivirus)

Infected sheep show neurological signs; incoordination, tremors, high stepping, leaping gait.

Question 20

What percentage of sheep show clinical signs of louping-ill disease?

Answer 20

5-60%

Question 21

What is the mortality rate of louping ill disease?

Answer 21

20%

Question 22

What family of ticks is known as the hard tick? Why is this?

Answer 22

Ixodidae because of the presence of a scutum

Question 23

What family of ticks is known as the soft tick? Why is this?

Answer 23

Argasidae because of a lack of a scutum.

Question 24

What are the components of tick saliva that make it adapted for its function?

Answer 24

Glycoproteins - help to cement the host with the hypostome.
Vaso-active PG - inflammatory mediator
Anti-coagulants - prevents blood clotting
Cytolytic agents - to break down the skin
Chemotactic agents - incites inflammatory reaction

Question 25

What is the function of the haller’s organ?

Answer 25

To detect cues from the host.

Sticky pad

Question 26

What are the symptoms of a tick bite?

Answer 26

Blood loss, anaemia.
Lesions
Restlessness
Low BCS and low productivity 
Paralysis
Inflammation - salivary agents

Question 27

What is trans-stadial transmission?

Answer 27

Larvae -> nymph -> adult

Question 28

What is trans-ovarial transmission?

Answer 28

The eggs are already infected.

Question 29

What are the ley terms of rhipicephalus sanguineas?

Answer 29

Brown dog tick

Kennel tick

Question 30

What are the issues associated with tick control?

Answer 30

Difficult to diagnose in early stages. This means that disease is often established at diagnosis.
No effective drug to combat it.
Peaks of abundance are extending.
Need to focus on tick control.