Tick Check

 

[caption id="attachment_140" align="alignright" width="162"] Snowshoe hare with ticks in July.[/caption]

When somebody says “tick” most people think of deer ticks and that leads to thinking about Lyme disease.  The truth is we have many different species of tick in Maine and along with lots of ticks comes lots of tick-borne diseases. Before this article begins to creep you out and you begin to wonder how badly you want to take to the woods, keep in mind many of the ticks we have in Maine don’t routinely prey upon humans, and even the ones that do can often be kept at bay by taking minimal safety precautions.

First, let’s talk about types of ticks. Over ten different species of tick have been recorded in Maine. Of course the most recognized culprits are the deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) which is also referred to as the black-legged tick, the dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), also referred as the wood tick, and the winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) also referred to as the moose tick, but did you know that Maine is home to the woodchuck tick (Isodes cookei), the squirrel tick (Ixodes marxi), the vole tick (Ixodes angustus), the rabbit tick (Haemaphysalis leporispalustris), the mouse tick (Ixodes muris), and the lonestar tick (Amblyomma americana), as well as a handful of others that have been found in Maine but are considered rare here. Some of these, such as the squirrel tick and vole tick, are actually common, but rarely feed on humans and are not known vectors of Lyme or other common tick-borne diseases. Some, like the winter tick, occasionally prey on humans, but are not known Lyme vectors. Others are known Lyme vectors, but are not known to transmit Lyme to humans, such as the mouse tick and rabbit tick. However, mouse ticks and lonestar ticks may carry spirochete bacteria that may cause symptoms similar to Lyme. If you suspect you have been bitten by one of these species of ticks, please submit the tick, preferably alive, to the Maine Medical Center Research Institute. For more information, please see the website at the bottom of this blog. Still some ticks, while not known vectors of Lyme, are vectors of other tick-borne illnesses like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (dog ticks), the Powasson virus (woodchuck ticks and deer ticks), Babesiosis (deer ticks), and Anaplasmosis (deer ticks).

Some of the symptoms related to the Powassan virus are fever, headache, vomiting, confusion, weakness, speech difficulties, memory loss, and loss of coordination. Symptoms of Babesiosis include chills, fever, headaches, body aches, loss of appetite, chills, nausea, and fatigue, although many people don’t have any symptoms at all. Symptoms of Anaplasmosis include fever, headache, chills, and muscle aches 1-2 weeks after being bitten. Symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever include fever, headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, and muscle pain. For many people a red, spotted rash also occurs, although this is not always the case. If you suspect you have been bitten by any tick, and are exhibiting any of these symptoms, contact your health care provider.

 

[caption id="attachment_141" align="alignleft" width="300"] Dead moose with head covered in various ticks.[/caption]

Most people who spend lots of time in the woods know the risks of tick-borne illnesses and take some precautions. However, those who spend time in the woods are not the only ones at risk. Ticks can be found in leaf litter in yards and are often brought into the house by pets. Thorough tick checks should be conducted with your finger-tips as well as your eyes, as many of these diseases are transmitted by young ticks, called nymphs, which are often overlooked because they are so small.  The use of insect repellent containing DEET or Permethrin is also recommended when spending time outdoors to help discourage ticks from attempting to make a meal of you. If you find a tick attached to you or your pet, remove it promptly. Over the years there have been quite a few tick removal methods that have been passed around, including putting a hot match against the backside of the tick, covering it with alcohol or petroleum jelly, or burning the legs off until it backs out. None of these are recommended, as it causes stress on the tick which may result in the tick regurgitating while still attached to you; this increases the chance of the tick transmitting any disease it may carry. Instead, use a notched tick spoon or some sturdy tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, with just enough pressure to not slip off it, and put steady, gradual outward pressure until the tick is removed. Always check to be sure the head of the tick is still attached to the body, and did not detach in the process.

Don’t let ticks keep you inside, but please be tick wise!

If you suspect you have been bitten by a lonestar tick or mouse tick, please visit http://www.mmcri.org/home/webSubContent.php?list=webcontentlive&id=109&type=headID&contenttype=c&maincontent=headContent&headTitle=Submitting%20Ticks&headTitleType=headTitle&headType=lyme&catID=4&subCatID=19 to find instructions for submitting the tick and to learn more.

For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/index.html