Ticks Research Papers

Ticks Research Papers
Ticks are very important and harmful blood sucking external parasites of mammals, birds and
reptiles throughout the woria (Furman and Loomis, 1984). The medical and economic importance of
ticks had long been recognized due to their ability to transmit diseases to humans and animals. Ticks
belong to phylum, Aarthropoda and make up the largest collection of creatures in order Acarina.
They are divided into two groups: soft ticks (Argasidae) and hard ticks (Ixodidae). Hard ticks feed
for extended periods of time on their hosts, varying from several days to weeks, depending on
factors like life stage, host type, and species of tick. The outside surface of hard ticks actually grows
to accommodate the large volume of blood ingested which in adult ticks, may be anywhere from 200
to 600 times their unfed body weight (Sonenshine, 1991). ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
The outside surface of soft ticks expands, but does not grow to accommodate the large volume of
blood ingested, which may be anywhere from 5 to 10 times their unfed body weight (Sonenshine,
1991). Ticks cause great economic losses to livestock in the world and have adverse effect on
livestock host in several ways (Snelson, 1975), parasitize a wide range of vertebrate hosts, and
transmit a wider variety of pathogenic agents than any other group of arthropods (Oliver, 1989,
colwell et al.,2011). There are 899 tick species those parasitize the vertebrates including Argasidae
(185 species), Ixodidae (713 species) andNuttalliellidae (1 specie) (Barker and Murrell, 2004,Naval
et al.,2012). Ticks are the most important ecto–parasites of livestock in tropical and sub–tropical
areas, and are responsible for severe economic losses in
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Lyme Disease Essay
Lyme disease has emerged as the most common vector borne infectious disease in the United States
and has presented a growing challenge to public health officials over the past three decades. The
infection represents a significant disease burden to the population of the United States with nearly
30,000 new cases diagnosed per year and an estimated additional 270,000 annual incident cases that
go unreported. The disease results from a bacterial infection with the spirochete bacteria B.
burgdorferi. This bacterial agent is transmitted to humans from the bite of a tick and is most
commonly associated Ixodes species blacklegged ticks. These ticks represent the largest genus of
the family Ixodidae and mainly inhabit temperate forest or grassland ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Typical incubation periods between initial infection and symptom presentation is between 7 and 14
days. The classic symptomology indicating infection is the development of Erythema–Migrans,
which is a bulls–eye shaped rash or legion that emanates from the site of the original tick bite.
Although this is considered the characteristically identifiable symptom of early Lyme disease
infection, studies have shown that as few as 35% of patients develop a rash (Nadelman et al., 1996).
Other common indications of early Lyme disease include, flu–like symptoms and the development
of Bell's palsy. Common treatments for early stage cases include oral antibiotics and are highly
effective in relieving infections. However, patients who do not receive treatment and develop CLD
or acquire Post Lyme Disease Syndrome can experience significantly more severe health problems.
Symptoms of these conditions include those found in early stages as well as, cognitive impairment,
insomnia, neuropathy, and heart problems (Wormser et al., 2006). The nature of this bacterial
infection and its increasing global incidence has made it a disease of significant interest in the public
health and medical

Diamond Black-Fan Anemia Case Summary
Case Summary, including Signs & Symptoms A woman who resides in Delaware had no record of
any tick bites or travel history outside Delaware. She was 43 years old and her past medical history
included transfusion dependent Diamond–Blackfan syndrome, hepatitis C, pulmonary hypertension,
and a splenectomy performed 20 years before this admission. Diamond– Blackfan syndrome or
"Diamond Black–Fan anemia", is a problem that stems from the bone marrow. As we know, the
bone marrow is responsible for producing the body's supply of erythrocytes which supply oxygen to
the body's vital organs and tissues. Many problems can occur in the body as a result of this anemia.
This patient had been undergoing some treatment for her hepatitis C for the 40 weeks ... Show more
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On the second hospital day, a lab scientist who was performing a routine exam of the peripheral
blood noticed multiple intraerythrocytic ring forms. These rings forms were consistent with Babesia.
This amount of parasitemia was quantified as 5–6% in this woman's smear. The patient was treated
with clindamycin ( IV 600mg 3x day), and quinine ( 648mg, orally 3x day ). The patient's mental
status started to shift a little so her health care team decided to move her to the intensive care unit. A
nasal wash as well as a blood culture came back negative. Unfortunately, this patient's status started
to drastically decline on the third day. Intubation and vasopressor support was required. Despite
being given such intense treatment, the patient underwent multiorgan failure due to Babesiosis.
Fourteen donors of blood received by the patient in the previous 4 months were then investigated.
All donors were negative for Babesia by rapid PCR for B. microti. Donor 4 had a very high B .
microti immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) titer (1:1024). A titer that high usually indicates that
infection was or is present. This donor lives in NJ but went to Rhode Island within 2 years of
donating blood. Two other donors were precluded as being the cause of the infection due to low
titers of

The Causative Agent Of Human Monocytotrophic Ehrlichiosis
Members of the genus Ehrlichia, the causative agent of human monocytotrophic ehrlichiosis (HME),
are important emerging tick–borne pathogens globally. Ehrlichia spp. is naturally transmitted by
Ixodidae family ticks and maintained between the ticks and the wild or domestic animal reservoir
hosts.
E. canis can cause illness in dogs and other canids, and these animals are thought to be the reservoir
hosts. Evidence of infection with this or a similar organism has also been reported in cats and
captive wild felids. Human infections with E.canis have been reported but the incidence is quite few.
In Venezuela, chronic, asymptomatic infections with E. canis in human patients have been reported
as well as six clinical cases with ehrlichiosis. All patients with clinical cases had a fever, and most
had a headache and/or myalgia. Also, malaise, arthralgia, nausea, vomiting, rash, bone pain, diarrhea
or abdominal pain occurred in some patients. Leukopenia was seen in one patient and anemia in
another. All of the six patients were young and otherwise healthy, and the E. canis strains were
identical to those seen in dogs. E. canis nucleic acids have also been detected in a small number of
stored human serum samples in the U.S. Although E. canis occur worldwide, its presence and
density in an area varies with the distribution of its tick vectors. The presence of novel Ehrlichia
genotype suspected to be E.canis detected in dogs in South Africa has been reported by Allsopp and
Allsopp

The Link Between Deer Tick And Lyme Disease
In the early 1970s, a number of rheumatoid arthritis cases occurred in Lyme, Connecticut.
Researchers considered several possible causes to outbreak, such as contact with germs in the water
or air. However, their attention focused on the deer tick population as a probability once they
realized that most of the affected children lived and/or played near wooded areas. Researchers
discovered that the symptoms started during the height of tick season in the summer. Many of the
children recalled seeing a rash before the arthritis started, and others remember being bitten by a tick
at the site of the rash. By the mid 1970s, researchers started to associate these signs and symptoms
with the disease, now called "Lyme Disease" to help physicians diagnose patients. However, it
wasn't until 1981 did researchers at Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana discover
the connection between the deer tick and Lyme Disease. "Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that
causes Lyme disease, was first isolated in 1982 by Willy Burgdorfer, Ph.D., a zoologist and
microbiologist at NIAID's Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) in Hamilton, Montana." (NIAID,
2008.) Dr. Burgdorfer at the time was studying Rocky Mountain Fever in attempt to help Jorge
Benach, Ph.D., discover why more than 100 spotted fever cases occurred in New York between
1971 and 1976. "Dr. Benach, of the New York State Department of Health had been a source of
American dog ticks for Burgdorfer to study." (NIAID, 2008.)

Ticks Use Several Ways For Locate Hosts
Ticks use several ways to locate hosts. Some quest, i.e. they crawl onto vegetation and wait for
passing hosts which they grab onto using their front legs, then crawl on the host until they find a
suitable site to attach and feed (Walker et al., 2003). The tick's questing behaviour is related to host
kairomones which are residues rubbed off host body onto vegetation (Terassini et al., 2010). Ticks
become akinetic upon encountering residues of kairomones (Carroll, 1998). As Artiodactyla and
Peryssodactyla usually frequent the same trails (Emmons and Feer, 1997), ticks waiting on these
positions have a chance of successfully encountering the host (Carroll, 2003). Arrestment
pheromones present in cast larval skins, tick faecal droppings and tick body exudates also induce
akinetic (Sonenshine and Roe, 2014). These two pheromones result in clustering of ticks. The
arrestment pheromones are interspecies specific, i.e Ornithodoros moubata arrestment pheromones
induce ceasation of movement in O. tholozani (Sonenshine, 2004). This behaviour is also expressed
between some different genera (Sonenshine and Roe, 2014).
Adult ticks of Amblyomma and Hyalomma are exophilic, i.e. they hunt for a nearby host by running
across the ground (Walker et al., 2003). Argasids and many Ixodes species are endophilic, i.e. they
spent their life time in a host's nest from where they attach to available host. A few species of ticks
have adapted to human dwellings, e.g. Rhipicephalus sanguineus. These feed

Black Legged Tick Research Paper
Species Profile of the Black Legged Tick (Ixodes scapularis)
Introduction One of the more common pests located in the Northeastern United States is the Black
Legged Tick (Ixodes scapularis). More commonly known as the "Deer Tick" this animal primarily
inhabits wooded areas populated by warm–blooded wildlife. Specifically the temperate Pine Barrens
in Southern New Jersey, which hosts the 2nd largest tick population in the country (CDC, 2010), the
black legged tick is a common pest that spreads lyme disease. This disease is a bacterial infection
caused by the tick latching onto a host and feeding for an extended period of time. These ticks attach
to most warm blooded woodland creatures and any human beings unfortunate enough to get close
enough. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
(CDC, 2015) Female ticks will die in the spring when her eggs burst from her body. These eggs will
litter the forest floor and eventually hatch into 6 legged larvae in the summer. These larva then
attach to much smaller mammals, such as field mice or small birds. Ticks spend as long as it takes,
usually a few days at most, finding the perfect spot to latch on and begin feeding. The larva feed for
a few days or until they are full and eventually drop off the host. With their appetite sated, larval
ticks will now prepare for their next stage of life. This occurs over the course of the fall and winter
time period as ticks burrow underground to retain warmth. They emerge in the spring, this time as 8
legged nymphs and the feeding cycle begins anew. This is also the period where lyme disease
becomes an issue. While feeding on smaller animals, ticks contract the disease and they become
carriers. They will transmit the disease as nymphs. Like the larvae, a nymph attaches to a larger
mammal ranging from squirrels to human beings. Over the course of a few days, the nymph finds a
spot to attach and feed. This happens over Spring and Summer. If they wait too long, the nymph will
die of starvation. When sated once again, the nymph falls to the forest floor and prepares one more
to proceed to the next stage of life. By Autumn, nymphs will have grown into adults. This is one of
the more important stages simply because reproduction can now occur. Females will find a host in
order to feed. Males find a host and a suitable mate. The male, once a mate is found, will fertilize as
many females as it possibly can before dying. The females will continue to feed until they are full
and eventually drop off. Once she is ready to lay eggs in the spring, her body will burst and the eggs
distribute along the forest floor as the cycle begins

Symptoms And Treatment Of Lyme Disease
"Lyme disease is caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans by the
bite of infected blacklegged ticks (Ixodes spp.). Early manifestations of infection include fever,
headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. Left untreated, late
manifestations involving the joints, heart, and nervous system can occur. A Healthy People 2010
objective (14–8) is to reduce the annual incidence of Lyme disease to 9.7 new cases per 100,000
population in 10 reference states where the disease is endemic (Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin).
This report summarizes surveillance data for 64,382 Lyme disease cases reported to CDC during
2003–2005, of which 59,770 cases (93%) were reported from the 10 reference states. The average
annual rate in these 10 reference states for the 3–year period (29.2 cases per 100,000 population)
was approximately three times the Healthy People 2010 target. Persons living in Lyme disease––
endemic areas can take steps to reduce their risk for infection, including daily self–examination for
ticks, selective use of acaricides and tick repellents, use of landscaping practices that reduce tick
populations in yards and play areas, and avoidance of tick–infested areas." (U.S. National Library of
Medicine, 2007.)
In the early 1970s, a number of rheumatoid arthritis cases occurred in Lyme, Connecticut.
Researchers considered

Tick Investigation Essay
Tick Investigation
Aim
To describe the niche of a tick by;
· Studying it anatomically
· Describing it's lifestyle
· Describing it's life cycle
· Explaining how it has adapted
· And what diseases it carries and spreads
.......................................................................................
An introduction to ticks
[IMAGE]
The tick is not an insect but is part of the arachnid family.
Ticks are divided into two main families, soft ticks (Argasidae) and hard ticks (Ixodidae). The
scientific name of the tick that I am studying is Ixodes Canisuga, it has a sclerotizeddorsal plate
(scutum), an oval or pair shaped outline, and their mouthparts are visible from the dorsal view.
Habitat
The ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
There are three stages in the development of ticks;
1. Lava

2. Nymph
3. Adult female
[IMAGE]The life cycle takes 3 to six years to complete, with each stage taking at least one year.
Blood feeding occurs once in each stage.
The diagram to the right shows the life cycle of a tick.
Larvae have six legs, climb the vegetation and wait for a passing host, usually a mouse. There they
feed for 2–3 days and they increase their weight 10–20 times. Thy then drop off into the vegetation
and continue to grow.
After several months, the lava molts to an 8–legged nymph of around 2mm.
A few months later the nymph molts again into the final stage of tick development; the adult. The
adult female can only feed successfully on larger animals such as dogs, deer sheep and cows. When
it feeds it can grow to 150 times its original weight. The immature stages of the tick can paratize
almost any warm blooded animal.
[IMAGE]The picture to the left is of a male and female tick mating.
Whilst mating, the female continues to feed, engorging herself so that she can produce well
nourished eggs. The males feed every so often to stay alive. When the female is ready to lay her
eggs, she drops of the host lays her eggs and dies.
[IMAGE]Anatomy of a tick
The picture to the right is the anchorage part of the tick, scientifically named the hyposome.

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Ticks Research Papers