tick fever

tick fever

n.

Any of various febrile diseases transmitted by ticks, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Texas fever.

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tick fever,

any of various infectious diseases transmitted by the bite of a tick. The causative parasite may be a Rickettsia, as in Rocky Mountain spotted fever; a bacterium, such as Babesia or Borrelia; or a virus, such as that causing Colorado tick fever.

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tick [tik]

a blood-sucking parasitic arachnid; there are two types, hard and soft. Hard ticks (family Ixodidae) have a smooth, hard cover that shields the entire back of the male but only the anterior portion of the back in the female. Soft ticks (family Argasidae) lack this shield. Ticks are visible to the human eye. A hard tick can be seen on the skin, where it burrows into the outer layer with its knifelike tongue; it must be removed from the skin with care. Soft ticks do not bore into the skin. The two varieties carry different diseases but both thrive in the spring and early summer and inhabit wooded areas, brush, or grass.



Ticks serve as vectors for viruses causing colorado tick fever and some forms of encephalitis and for rickettsiae that cause such diseases as rocky mountain spotted fever and boutonneuse fever. A progressive ascending flaccid paralysis called tick paralysis may follow the bite of certain species, usually Dermacentor andersoni.

Removal of Hard Ticks. If hard ticks are extracted from the skin immediately, before they begin to suck blood, the chances of their transmitting disease are lessened; probably the only damage done will be an irritating itch at the site. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that ticks be removed intact with fine-tip tweezers. Once the head and body are removed, the tick should not be squeezed or crushed with the bare hands. The site should be washed with soap and water.

tick fever any of various infectious diseases transmitted by the bite of a tick. The causative parasite may be a rickettsia, as in rocky mountain spotted fever; a bacterium such as Babesia or Borrelia; or a virus, such as that of colorado tick fever.

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tick

a blood-sucking arachnid parasite. There are two types, hard and soft. Includes American dog (dermacentorvariabilis), argasid tick, bont (amblyommahebraeum), British dog (ixodescanisuga), brown dog (rhipicephalussanguineus), brown ear (rhipicephalusappendiculatus), brown winter (dermacentornigrolineatus), castor bean (ricinus communis), cayenne (amblyommacajennense), Gulf Coast (amblyommamaculatum), ixodid, lone star (amblyommaamericanum), pajaroello (ornithodoruscoriaceus), red-legged (rhipicephalusevertsi), Rocky Mountain wood (dermacentorandersoni), shingle (syn. moose, dermacentoralbipictus), spinose ear (otobiusmegnini), tropical bont (amblyommavariegatum), yellow dog (haemaphysalisleachi leachi) tick.

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canine tick typhus

see canine ehrlichiosis.

tick collar

a neck collar made of a PVC resin which releases particles of insecticide over a period of several months and aids in the control of tick infestations in companion animals.

tick fever

see babesiosis, anaplasmosis.

hard tick

ticks of the family Ixodidae and members of Ixodes, Boophilus, Margaropus, Hyalomma, Rhipicephalus, Haemaphysalis, Aponomma, Dermacentor, Amblyomma, Rhipicentor spp. They have a hard chitinous shield on the dorsal surface of the body, on the entire back of the male but only the anterior portion of the female.

tick paralysis

the female of several species of ticks but most commonly Ixodes or Dermacentor spp. elaborates a neurotoxin that typically causes an ascending flaccid paralysis in many animal species and humans but particularly in companion animals and young food animals. Affected dogs first develop weakness and paralysis of the hindlimbs, then forelimbs and ultimately respiratory paralysis unless the tick is removed and, in some cases, treatment with hyperimmune serum is given.

tick pyemia

an infection of lambs caused by Staphylococcus aureus and transmitted by the bites of ticks. Newborn lambs die of septicemia or develop signs of arthritis, meningitis or dermatitis. Called also staphylococcal pyemia.

seed tick

see seed tick.

soft tick

ticks of the family Argasidae including Argas, Otobius, Ornithodorus spp. These ticks have no dorsal protective shield.

tick-stained

said of wool or fleece that is heavily discolored by the feces of sheep ked (Melophagus ovinus).

tick toxicosis

see sweating sickness.

tick vectors

ticks act as vectors of protozoa, bacteria, viruses, rickettsia.

tick worry

an all-embracing term to describe the debilitating effects of heavy tick infestations. Includes anemia, irritation by the ticks, local infection as a result of bites, secondary blowfly and screw-worm infestation.

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tick fever

See Rocky Mountain spotted fever.