Ticks! Part TWO
Have you ever wondered how a tick can stay lodged on a host when while the host is trying to remove it? The mouthparts of a tick is a thing of wonder. The mouthpart or hypostome is needle like. It can puncture through skin. The mouthpart has backward facing barbs (like an anaconda’s teeth) called denticles. These barbs secrete a bonding substance like concrete to help the tick remain in place while it feeds. Once in place it releases it saliva. The tick’s saliva has proteins in it that keeps the blood from clotting and also agents in it to battle our defense systems. (This saliva is close to the mosquito’s)
Ticks are carriers of diseases. They are known to carry Lyme Disease, Human asbestosis, Anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Tularemia. Pets can die from anemia from ticks if they are left on.
*Lyme disease was first identified in 1975, and since then the disease has continued to increase, both in the number of people afflicted and in the geographic distribution. National surveillance for Lyme disease began in 1982, when 491 cases were reported. In 2004, the latest year for which statistics are available, there were 19,804 human cases verified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 60,000 cases are reported each year in Europe.
Symptoms and signs of Lyme disease
Early Lyme Disease
The early stages of Lyme disease is usually marked by one or more of the following symptoms:
fatigue
chills and fever
headache
muscle and joint pain
swollen lymph nodes
a characteristic skin rash, called erythema migrans (EM) (Has a dark red center and red outter ring. Looks almost like a spread out bulls-eye)
Currently,Lyme disease is the most frequently reported arthropod-borne disease in the United States, however, far fewer cases of human babesiosis have been reported than those of Lyme disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA, more than 13,000 cases of Lyme disease were reported in 1994 from 43 states, nearly a sixty percent increase over the number reported in 1993 and approximately a 26-fold increase from the 491 cases reported from 11 states in 1982. Contrarily, only a few hundred cases of human babesiosis have been reported nation wide in the last two decades.
If you are bitten the quicker you remove the tick the better. Lyme Disease can be transferred to a host in as little as 24 hours from a tick. When removing a tick always sterilize the area with alcohol and be sure to use CLEAN sharp tipped tweezers. Blunt tipped tweezers can leave the tick’s mouth parts still attached. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. DO NOT remove it by pulling on the bottom. This can result in the tick bursting and the tick’s fluid bursting. This can lead to infection. After the tick is removed place it in a plastic zip lock bag then sterilize the area again. Be sure to clean your tweezers also. Keep the tick in case the bite becomes inflamed and infected. Doctor’s can often identify the tick to help narrow down the cause for the infection. Most tick bites are treated with antibiotics. You can use anti-itch and anti-inflammatory creams and medicines. A Tylenol will often help with inflammation. If the mouth part breaks off when removing treat it as you would a splinter.
To keep tick populations down in your yard keep the grass trimmed and you can spray the shrubs and other tall grasses with a pesticide. Always wear white socks so that ticks can be easily spotted. If in known tick rich area used repellents. Some are clothing only spray so read the label and follow the directions. Wear a hat and long sleeves and make sure to check yourself over properly as soon as possible.
If you have a tick and would like to I.D it I recommend this website. They also have tons of information about ticks.
http://www.tickencounter.org/education/tick_identification/
I think I covered the basics of ticks. If you are bitten and are not sure about the bite area always seek medical help. If you go to the ER or doctor mention the tick bite, even if it was in a "sensitive" area. A aunt of mine refused to seek medical help because it was in a "sensitive" location. They are doctor's I'm sure they have have much, much worse.
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A tick and it's eggs. These eggs can hatch in two days in pefect conditions.
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