Zoonotic Mites, Ticks, Fleas and Their Diseases Flashcards
For what reason will many ectoparasites attack humans?
Preference or out of starvation
T/F:Mites have a preference, but will bite anything.
True
Why is Sarcoptes so itchy?
Female burrows into skin to deposit eggs.
What are Sarcoptes mites often unable to do on the “wrong host”?
Complete life cycle
What is a common name for Chyletiella?
Walking dandruff
T/F: Humans are not very susceptible to walking dandruff.
False, humans are highly susceptible.
How can humans get rid of Cheylitiella mites?
Treat their pets
Where do chiggers like to bite people?
Under elastic, close-fitting clothing
Where can chiggers be found in the wild?
Humid undergrowth
Do bird mites feed on humans?
Yes, especially if the birds are absent.
What causes Borrelioses?
Tick-transmitted spirochetes
What are the two groups of Borrelia that cause zoonotic disease?
Lyme disease type
Relapsing fever type
What ticks transmit the Lyme disease type Borrelia?
Ixodes
What ticks transmit the Relapsing fever type Borrelia?
Soft ticks
What is the reservoir for Borrelia burgdorferi?
Sylvatic rodents
What does Lyme disease look like in people, dogs and horses?
Acute febrile illness, myalgia, sometimes arthralgia
Possibly a “bulls-eye” rash.
How long must ticks be attached to transmit Lyme?
> 48 hours
T/F: Domestic dogs can serve as “domestic” sources of infected tikcs if untreated.
True
What is the role of soft ticks in the relapsing-fever group of Borrelia’s life cycle?
Vector AND reservoir
What is a common name for Rickettsia rickettsii?
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
What is the vector for RMSF?
Dermacentor
What is the most pathogenic spotted fever group rickettsial in the US?
RMSF
What is Typhus?
Rickettsia typhi
How is typhus transmitted?
Rodent-flea life cycle
