tick paralysis

tick paralysis

n.

Ascending paralysis caused by the attachment of certain ticks, especially of the genera Dermacentor and Ixodes. Removal of the tick usually results in rapid recovery.

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tick paralysis,

a rare, progressive, reversible disorder caused by several species of ticks that release a neurotoxin that causes weakness, incoordination, and paralysis. The tick must feed on the host for several days before the symptoms appear, and removal of the tick leads to rapid recovery. Because respiratory or bulbar paralysis can cause death, it is important to search for ticks, frequently hidden in scalp hair, on a patient with these symptoms. This infection is often confused with Guillain-Barré syndrome, botulism, and myasthenia gravis.

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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 paralysis

Ascending tick paralysis, tick toxicosis A flaccid ascending quadriplegia that resembles Guillain-Barré syndrome–GBS, due to the continued presence of certain ticks attached to the occipital or upper neck region in humans, attributed to an unidentified neurotoxin produced by the bite of certain pregnant ticks Clinical Onset several days after the tick begins feeding–unsteady gait, extremity and truncal ataxia, loss of deep tendon reflexes, drooling, tachypnea, affected children develop an unsteady gait–ataxia followed several days later by lower extremity weakness that gradually moves up to involve the upper limbs; paralysis may affect respiration, mandating ventilatory assistance DiffDx Botulism, GBS, myasthenia gravis, postinfectious polyradiculopathy Management Tick removal, supportive care Prognosis Tick removal results in complete recuperation; 10% mortality if not removed, due to respiratory paralysis