Spring went by way too fast and now it’s summer, my least favorite season. My favorite is fall, then spring, followed by winter and summer last. I could do without summer and the heat. Send it to New Orleans. They’re used to it. – But today, let’s talk summer, ticks and disease.
Since it’s summer and tick season, it’s time for an update on ticks and the diseases they transmit.
I’ve already had two ticks attached. The first was a tiny American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis); the second a male lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum). I’ve also had a female lone star tick crawling on my arm. I’m amazed at how fast they move. We’ve taken many dead ticks off the dogs. We give them Bravecto, which kills fleas and ticks. It’s an oral pill that gives three months’ protection. Works great.
Blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis), also called deer ticks, are in the area but I’ve never seen one.
Ticks and Disease
The American dog ticks carries the pathogens that cause Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) and tularemia, also called rabbit fever. The disease is called RMSF because it was first described from the mountains of Montana.
RMSF is the most common tick-borne disease in Oklahoma and Oklahoma usually ranks in the top three states in the U.S. for the number of cases. In the 25 years we’ve lived here, I’ve had RMSF five times. On average, that’s every 5 years. Since I had it last year, maybe I won’t have it this year. Hope so. Doxycycline took care of it each time. Thank you, Doxy! my new best friend. I spray with Deep Woods OFF (25% DEET) before working outside but I still get ticks.
Years ago, Becky and I were in the Everglades in January. The mosquitoes were so bad we bought Everglades Max Insect Repellent. It contains 95% DEET. Even with that, the mosquitoes drove us back into the safety of our car. Maybe I should use it. I still have some.
Ticks and Disease
When a tick takes a blood meal, it injects a bit of saliva to keep the blood from clotting. The pathogens are in the saliva. The saliva of Dermacentor ticks can cause a paralysis, referred to as tick paralysis. In general, the tick must be attached for several days for symptoms to occur, which include muscle weakness, then paralysis, beginning in the arms and legs and progressing inward toward the body. The ticks are often found in the hair, especially of children, where they go unnoticed. Treatment is removal of the tick. Full recovery occurs within a few days.
Lone star ticks transmit ehrlichiosis, a rash-less RMSF-like illness. They also transmit southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI) and tularemia. The bite can cause an allergy to red meat, known as alpha-gal syndrome (AGS). AGS is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. Once developed, it tends not go away. In most cases, AGS is a lifelong condition. However, it may go away in some patients after a few years. Individuals with AGS must avoid all red meat, which includes beef, pork, lamb, venison, rabbit and so on. Poultry and fish are okay to eat.
Blacklegged ticks (deer ticks) transmit several diseases, including Lyme disease. After eggs hatch, all ticks go through three developmental stages – larva, nymph, adult. Each stage feeds on a different host. Larval ticks have 6 legs, nymph and adult ticks have 8 legs. The ticks that transmit Lyme disease feed on mice in the larval stage and large mammals, including deer, in the nymph and adult stages. Ticks become infected with Lyme when feeding on infected mice, the natural reservoir host for Lyme bacteria. Deer are not infected.
Lyme disease occurs in the northeast, the mid-Atlantic states and the upper north-central states. My understanding is that Lyme disease does not occur in Oklahoma because the larval ticks feed on lizards, not on mice.
Here’s how I remove a tick. It works great. Using a fine-tipped tweezer, I grasp the tick by the head as close to the skin as possible and gently pull. Usually the entire tick comes loose, head and all. Check Amazon for fine-tipped tweezers. You’ll see dozens of them. Recently, another tick has been found in Oklahoma, the Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis), specifically in Mayes County, which is about an hour east of us.
The tick is native to East Asia. As a result of shipping, it was introduced to the northeastern U.S. where it became established and has since been moving south and west. It is a significant threat to livestock, including cattle, horses, sheep, goats, chickens, and also dogs, cats and many wild animals. Whereas most ticks require three separate hosts for their development, the Asian longhorned tick needs only one. All three stages (larva, nymph, adult) occur on a single animal and the blood loss can be significant if hundreds of ticks are attached. Death can occur.
Pictures from the left: female American dog tick, male American dog tick (it’s dead because I found it found on our treated dog), female lone star tick (only the female has the white spot), male lone star tick, and my box turtle buddy. I plan to diligently look for a male American dog tick so I can get pictures of a live one.
There you go, folks. Tick season is here so be prepared.
Female Lone Star Tick by David John
Male Lone Star Tick by David John
Female American Dog Tick by David John
Male American Dog Tick by David John
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