tick (redirected from ticks)

tick (tik) a bloodsucking acarid parasite of the superfamily Ixodoidea, divided into soft-bodied ticks and hard-bodied ticks. Some ticks are vectors and reservoirs of disease-causing agents.

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tick (tk)

n.

1. Any of numerous small bloodsucking parasitic arachnids of the families Ixodidae and Argasidae, many of which transmit febrile diseases, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease.

2. Any of various usually wingless, louselike insects of the family Hippobosciddae that are parasitic on sheep, goats, and other animals.

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Tick

Any of a number of haematophagous ectoparasitic arachnid arthropods of the superfamily Ixodoidea. Like people, ticks are either hard—family Ixodidae—or soft—family Argasidae. Ticks may be vectors of bacterial and viral disease, e.g., Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease

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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

Medical entomology A hematophagous ectoparasitic arthropod of the superfamily Ixodoidea, which is either a hard tick–family Ixodidae or a soft tick–family Argasidae; ticks may be vectors of bacterial and viral infections. Cf Colorado tick fever, Deer tick, Lone Star tick, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Ticks of interest  

Dermacentor andersoni, the North America vector, Rocky Mountain spotted fever–RMSF, Colorado tick fever–CTF, tularemia and tick paralysis

D marginatus Asian vector–Russian spring-summer fever virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, possibly also Congo-Crimean hemorrhagic fever virus and Babesia reservoir for Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus

D occidentalis West coast North America–presumed vector for RMSF, CTF

D parumapertus Southwestern US–vector for RMSF, CTF

D variabilis Eastern US–vector for RMSF, tularemia, CTF, and tick paralysis; Asian and African ticks, vectors of Rickettsialpox

Ixodes dammini Northern deer tick–vector, Babesia microti, Lyme disease agent

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Patient discussion about tick.

Q. I had a tick to bite me a few days ago now I have a headache on and off and feel nauseous and diarrhea My friend had a stomach virus last week is my symptoms coming from the tick or is it a coincidence

A. It sounds like the tick bite is just a coincidence. You probably caught a virus, not necessarily from your friend who was sick, but that's also a possibility. However, if the bad feeling doesn't go away, or your suddenly experience fever spikes, you should see a doctor, because you might have a bacterial infection that will need antibiotics.

Q. How do people get ticks?

A. when i stayed in the Peruvian jungle for 3 weeks - ticks were the most common parisite we encountered. we finished every day with a set of pincers and a flashlight :) they just stand on the plants waiting for something to pass near. be that a man, a monkey or an ant eater. they don't care, as long as they have blood. the same in cities, they just wait in strategic points until you'll pass along and they'll just jump on you. be sure to use pincers to plunk them, catch their sucking tube and plunk. if not they might leave it in your body and it'll get infected.