Ticks & Mites Flashcards
Acarines include the suborders (2)
-Parasitiformes (ticks)
-Acariformes (mites)
features of Acarines (ticks and mites) (3)
-no antennae (palp used instead)
-no compound eyes
-adults have FOUR pairs of legs
Features of ticks (5)
-mouthpart (palp) is a blood sucking tube
-chelicera cut open skin
-hypostome are backward projecting teeth
-some species (cattle tick) can form a plug and lock onto host
-abdomen and cephaltothorax
two families of ticks
-Argasidae (soft ticks)
-Ixodidae (hard ticks)
Argasidae (soft ticks) (4)
-no scutum (always tick to engorge)
-mouthparts are underneath (not visible)
-leathery and reddish
-rapid feeders
Ixodidae (hard ticks) (3)
-scutum present
-mouth parts anterior
-slow feeders
adult ticks have ___ pairs of legs
4
larvae of the hard tick have ___ pairs of legs
3
Ixodidae (hard tick) life cycle can be (3)
-1 host tick
-2 host tick
-3 host tick
in 3 host tick,
each life stage is on a different host and moulting occurs off the host
Male Ixodidae have a
larger scutum that covers the entire body
questing is when
larval ticks climb grass and wave their legs in the air in response to movement and CO2
Haller’s organ
detects change in CO2 and appropriate location for attachment of tick larvae to host (questing)
pathogenic effects of ticks (7)
-blood loss
-irritation
-hypersensitivity
-damaged hide
-reduced growth rate of host
-production of toxins (paralysis)
-transmission of protozoan parasites and other pathogens
Ixodes holocyclus (paralysis tick) (9)
-found in east coast aus
-saliva contains neuromuscular toxin that affects the hindlimbs and oesophagus
-low host specificity
-3 host tick
-life cycle takes 18 months
-larvae mainly in spring
-nymph mainly in autumn
-adults in spring
-males rarely seen on host
in 3 host ticks, such as the paralysis tick,
each life cycle occurs on a different host and must quest for a new host after each moult
common host of the paralysis tick are ___ which are ____
bandicoots; immune to paralysis
Life cycle of Ixodes holocyclus (Paralysis Tick) (10)
-females drop off host and lay eggs in nest
-eggs develop for over 7 weeks
-Jan-May, unfed larva quest
-engorged larva drop off host and moult
-April-Sept, unfed nymph quests
-engorged nymph drops off host and moults
-Oct-Dec unfed adult female quests, males attach to females or quest
-males die after mating
-18 months total
-hosts include: bandicoots, other marsupials, dogs, cats, cattle, goats, horses, humans
Treatment of Ixodes holocyclus (paralysis tick) (4)
-removal of tick
-antiserum
-minimise stress
-control is impractical due to abundance and low host specificity
an example of a 1 host tick is the
cattle tick
two examples of a 3 host tick are the
paralysis tick and brown dog tick
Cattle Tick (Rhipicephalus australis/microplus aka Boophilus microplus) Life Cycle (5)
-engorged female drops of cattle, lays eggs, and dies
-larval development can take up to 2 months in summer, up to 7 months in winter
-ONLY larva quest
-attachment to host, feeds and moults into nymph
-adult ticks on cattle
Cattle Tick (Rhipicephalus/Boophilus australis/microplus) dispersal & survival (4)
-larvae accumulate around site of egg mass
-migrate short distances
-cattle try to avoid heavily infected areas
-limited by off-host environment and availability of cattle host
effects of Cattle Tick (3)
-tick worry (loss in production
-anaemia
-tick fever
control of cattle tick (5)
-resistant cattle (Bos indicus)
-chemical treatments
-tick vaccine
-tick safe pastures
-quarantine
spelling pastures is useful for ___ because ____
1 host ticks (cattle tick) because only one stage of the life cycle is OFF the host
not running cattle on a certain field for x amount of time is called
spelling pastures
___ cattle lines are more resistant to ticks
Bos indicus
Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus linnaei/sanguineus) (3)
-3 host tick
-can live indoors (cracks in floor, walls)
-vector borne diseases: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (US) and Canine babesiosis (HK)
Rhipicephalus linnaei (Brown Dog Tick) transmits
Canine Erlichiosis
Canine Erlichiosis (5)
-northern aus
-notifiable disease
-transmitted by Brown Dog Tick
-acute and chronic disease in dogs
-fever, bleeding, lethargy, weakness
Haemaphysalis longicornis (Bush Tick in AUS, Cattle Tick in NZ) (3)
-widespread
-introduced from Japan
-agent for bovine Theileriosis
Arachnida (mites) (5)
-abundant, mostly free living
-resemble ticks but smaller
-lack rows of teeth on hypostome
-larva have 3 pairs of elgs
-intermittent parasites or permanent parasites
effect of mites on host (4)
-blood loss
-irritation
-hair loss
-vectors
Two orders of Arachnida (mites)
-Parasitiformes (tick-like mites)
-Acariformes (mitey mites)
Mesostigmata (Parasitiformes) have
legs at anterior end of body
Prostigmata (Acariformes) have
feather-like setae
Astigmata (Acariforms) have
front pair of legs separated from back pair
Demodex canis < Prostigmata < Acariformes (8)
-mostly not pathogenic
-nearly all mammals have
-wormlike
-legs very short at front of body
-located on hair follicles and feed on cytoplasm
-eggs–> 2 nymph stages–> adults
-transmission via contact during suckling
-HIGH HOST SPECIFICITY (host-to-host transfer does NOT occur)
Demodectic mange typically occurs in
Short haired dogs with immune deficiency aged 6-10 months of age
Demodectic mange often occurs around
The eyes, ears, and muzzle
Infection of follicles with Demodex canis leads to (3)
-hair loss
-hyperkeratosis
-secondary infection with Staph albus
Acariformes (mange mites) have this feature:
Front pair of legs well separated from back pairs
Two families of Acariformes (mange mites)
-Sarcoptidae
-Psoroptidae
Otodectes is
Ear mites
Sarcoptes scabiei < Sarcoptidae < Acariformes (mange mites) (4)
-legs 3 and 4 hidden under body
-triangular scales on dorsum
-wide host range
-strains on specific host
Statins of Sarcoptes scabiei can
Survive but NOT reproduce on other hosts
Sarcoptes scabiei live in ___ and lay eggs in ___
Superficial layers of skin; tunnels
Transmission of Sarcoptes scabiei is via
Contact
Simple life cycle of Sarcoptes scabiei
Contact eggs laid in tunnels within skin —> larva —> 2 nymph stages —> adult (takes 10-17 days)
True or False: scabies mites from dogs can transfer to humans
True. They can transfer to humans but will likely not survive to complete their life cycle due to host-specificity
Otodectes < Psoroptidae < Acariformes (mange mites) predominantly infect ___ and are highly ___
Auditory canals of ears; contagious
Sarcoptid mite of birds
Cnemidocoptes pili
Agent of sheep scab is
Psorobia ovis
Psoroptes (sheep mange mites) is
No longer present in AUS
