Ticks & Mites Flashcards
What diseases are ticks vectors of?
Tick-bite Fever (Africa) & Lime Disease (USA - transmitted by a deer tick)
What is mange and what arthropod is responsible for transmitting it?
Mange is a skin condition that results from an over-infestation of mites (sub-clinical infestations occur on most animals) – it usually occurs in young or old animals that are in poor condition (often as a result of nutritional stress) and are not able to counteract the parasite load. It is usually indicated by the loss of hair on the body (followed by sores on the skin; possible subsequent infection; further condition loss and death – it is a condition that is often reversed simply by nutrition)
What is the lifecycle of a mite?
Ametabolic: Eggs are laid beneath the skin >> 6-legged larvae hatch >> moult into 8-legged nymphs >> further moults give rise to adults
What is the lifecycle of a tick?
Egg >> Larva >> Nymph >> Adult. Larval stage only have 6 legs - “Pepper ticks”
What happens to an animal that has an over infestation of ticks?
The animal may get anaemia due to the sheer volume of blood that the ticks consume
What animals are more susceptible to ticks than others?
In descending order of severity: buffalo; impala; kudu; zebra; and wildebeest
Describe the lifecyle of a one host tick
Larvae hatch and attach to host; Larvae moult into nymph on host; Nymphs moult into adult on host; Continue to feed; mate; and drop off to lay eggs
Describe the lifecyle of a two host tick
Adult drops from host; lays eggs and dies ;Larvae hatch within 2 months that can survive without feeding for long periods ;Attach to ears and flanks of host ;Engorge; moult into nymphal stage ;Engorge again and drop off host after 15 days ;Moult into adult ;Attaches to 2nd host under the tail ;Engorge ;Find a mate; copulate and cycle begins again
Describe the lifecyle of a three host tick
Adult drops from host and lays 3000-6000 eggs ;After 3 weeks; larvae hatch and attach to a host (usually a small mammal) ;Larvae engorge and drop to ground ;Moult into nymphal stage ;Attach to second host (may be a slightly larger host); engorge ;Drop to ground; moult into adult Attaches to 3rd host and completes life cycle ;Larvae and nymphs attach to hares; elephant shrews ;Adults frequent head; particularly around the mouth; cheeks; eyelids and ears ;Entire cycle usually takes about 3 months ;Survival without food: Nymphs – 1 year; Adult – > 2years
Give an example of a one host tick species
Blue tick
Give an example of a two host tick species
Bont-legged Tick & Red-legged Tick
Give an example of a two host tick species
Brown Ear Ticks & Bont Ticks
What is the easiest way to tell males from females ticks?
Males are smaller
What is the difference between hard ticks and soft ticks?
Hard ticks have a “plate” on their back that is called a scutum. … Soft ticks appear to have a wrinkled body; lack a scutum; and the males and females are very close to the same size. Viewing a soft tick from above would give someone the impression that soft ticks do not have mouthparts.
What is “Lyme disease”?
Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi
