Ticks, the Ultimate Parasite

Authors

  • Adrianna Tirloni Department of Entomology Texas A&M University

Abstract

Ticks are notorious vectors of disease causing pathogens such as the pathogens that cause Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tick paralysis. Ticks are second only to mosquitoes in terms of public health importance. Ticks are found in many climates around the world but tend to frequent warmer areas with higher humidity (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). In conjunction with a local humane society samples of ticks were collected from various dogs. Five ticks were collected, an Ixodes scapularis (Arachnida: Acari: Ixodidae: L.), two Amblyomma americanum (Arachnida: Acari: Ixodidae: L.) and two Dermacentor variabilis (Arachnida: Acari: Ixodidae: L.). Findings from this survey imply that there are possible tick vectors within the Brazos Valley Area. 

References

Ambloymma americanum, Accessed from: http://www.cvbd.org/en/tick-borne-diseases/about-ticks/tick-species/lone-star-tick/life-cycle/

Brownstein, J. S. et al. 2003. "A climate-based model predicts the spatial distribution of the Lyme disease vector Ixodes scapularis in the United States.† Environmental Health Prospectives: 111(9), pp. 1152-1157. 2003. Online.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Tickborne Diseases of the United States.† Tick-Borne Diseases: A Reference Manual. 2014. 40. Online.

Childs J. E. and Paddock C. D. 2002. "The Ascendancy of Amblyomma americanum as a Vector of Pathogens Affecting Humans in the United States.† Annual Review of Entomology. Vol. 48. pp. 307-337. 2003. Online.

Dermacentor variabilis, Accessed from: http://bugguide.net/node/view/16110

Ixodes scapularis, Accessed from: http://www.pbase.com/image/34890871

Texas Department of State Health Services. "Diseases.† Tick and Tick-borne Disease in Texas. 2006. 8. Online.

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Published

2015-04-08