Types Of Ticks
What are the different types of ticks? Ticks are vermin they populate the surface of the body (they are ectoparasites). Most types of ticks can be found on the skin of mammals (or in their fur), on the skin of birds or less often, the crawlers. Ticks are part of the same class of insects with scorpions and spiders – arachnids. They are parasites; they eat blood hosts and populate a single host for a few days, if they are not removed. Most cases occur spring and summer (until late in the fall). Their bites don`t hurt (this is why their presence is not felt by the host).
Types of Ticks are slightly different in the USA and in Europe. A part of ticks transmit diseases and did not cause serious problems of health host. Others transmit the Lyme disease or a particular type of meningoencephalit.
It is more than 800 species of types of ticks, but most important are:
– Ripicephalus sanguineus (genus Ripicephalus), similar to Ixodes Ricinus, but preferred host is the dog (dog parasite).
– Dermacentor andersoni (genus Dermacentor), pest on bovine, horse, different mammals and man.
In general, young ticks have 6 feet (3 pairs); the mature ones have 4 pairs. They are very small, but may be visible with the naked eye. Males are black and females are black with red abdomen. The only way to infect a new host is physical contact (they do not jump, don’t fly, but is attached to the body of the victim).Types of ticks are found usually in tall grass.
Ticks should be removed as soon as they are discovered, and the patient should be careful to remove them entirely, because only thus can prevent the transmission of diseases: by removing the body eliminate the risk of diseases transmission and removal of the head it`s eliminating the possibility of appearance a local inflammation.
Usually the patient does not need to take additional measures: it is sufficient to remove carefully the tick (to make sure it is complete), to disinfect the area and to ensure that there is no reaction in the area (an infection or inflammation). Only in certain cases it is necessary a tetanus vaccine.
There are people who develop allergic reactions to all types off ticks. The intensity varies: it can be moderate, with only a few signs and symptoms present, or it can be serious (in rare cases, however) and evolving even anaphylactic shock. Most diseases that all types of ticks can cause in the human body as main manifestations and symptoms: fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, myalgia. Symptoms can start from the first day one to bite up to 3 weeks. Sometimes the symptoms are accompanied by the appearance of reddish spots (skin rash) to the lesion.
After a single bite of the tick, the risk of sickness shall be up to 4% for all types of ticks. If the parasite is captured and it is found that is contaminated with Borrelia Burgdorferi, the spirochete which transmits Lyme disease be increased up to 32 %. The probability of infection increases significantly, especially if the insect has remained stuck in the skin over 72 hours.
Ticks are often vectors for:
– Lyme disease
– Tularemia
– Babesiosis
– Fever of Colorad
