Ticks are gross Flashcards
Which bacteria causes Lyme disease?
Borrelia burdorferi
Which bacteria causes human babesiosis?
Babesia microti
Which bacteria causes human granulocytic anaplasmosis?
Anaplasma phagocytophila
Symptoms of tick borne illness?
Asymptomatic or mild to life-threatening illness
- Fever/chills
- Aches/pains
- Rash
How is lyme disease spread?
Ixodes ticks (I. scapularis)
Four life stages of hard ticks
- Egg
- Six legged larvae
- Eight legged nymph
- Adult
When do adult ticks peak?
Spring and fall
When do nymph ticks peak?
May-July
Which stage of tick is most likely to bite you?
Nymphs
How long must an ixodes tick feed to transmit lyme?
24 hours
Can transmit several tick-borne diseases including anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Lyme disease
Blacklegged or deer ticks
Ixodes scapularis
What causes human anaplasmosis?
Anaplasma phagocytophilum
Which bacteria cause erlichiosis?
Ehrlichia chaffeensis
Ehrlichia ewingii
Which ticks transmit the diseases erlichiosis and anaplasmosis?
Blacklegged tick, lone star tick, western blacklegged tick
Rash appearance similar to lime disease but has not been linked to arthritic, neurologic, or chronic symptoms
STARI
Southern tick associated rash illness
Which tick transmits STARI?
Lone star tick
Where are most cases of STARI found?
Southeastern US
What is the incubation period of anaplasmosis?
1-2 weeks
Common symptoms of anaplasmosis?
Fever, chills, headache, malaise, myalgia, arthralgias
What is increasing in Maine - anaplasmosis or erlichiosis?
Anaplasmosis. There are no documentations of erlichiosis in Maine.
What will the lab findings be in a patient with anaplasmosis?
Mild anemia
Thrombocytopenia
Leukopenia with a left shift
Mild elevation of LFTs
Best way to diagnose anaplasma?
PCR assay for DNA
What is the adult treatment for anaplasmosis?
Doxycycline 100mg
How do you treat children with anaplasmosis?
Start with doxycycline, follow-up with beta-lactam
If your patient is resistant to doxycycline and has anaplasmosis, what can you give them?
Rifampin
What parasite causes babesiosis?
Babesia microti
How does Babesia micro infect its hosts?
It infects red blood cells and causes hemolysis
What is the animal reservoir for babesiosis?
Rodents and small mammals
What is the vector for babesiosis?
Ixodes tick
Where does Babesiosis usually occur?
Northeast coast of US
How long is the incubation period of babesiosis after a tick bite?
1-3 weeks
Symptoms of babesiosis?
Fever/Chills/Sweats
N/V
Myalgia, arthralgia, fatigue