Infectious Disease: Vectors--Ticks

Front 1

1. Which is the most common tick species encountered in Michigan?

2. Which months of the year is it most active?

Back 1

1. American dog tick, or wood tick (76% of ticks submitted to MI authorities for ID)

2. May, June, July

Front 2

Name 2 diseases that the American dog tick transmits.

Back 2

1. Rocky Mountain spotted fever

2. Tularemia

Front 3

1. What is a more official name for the deer tick?

2. What is the percentage of deer ticks among all the ticks found in Michigan?

Back 3

1. Blacklegged tick

2. 15 % of all submitted to the state

Front 4

What areas of Michigan are inhabited (so far) by the blacklegged tick?

Back 4

The western areas of the upper and lower peninsulas (and gradually spreading east!)

Front 5

Name 5 diseases spread by blacklegged ticks.

Back 5

1. Lyme disease

2. Anaplasmosis

3. Babesiosis

4. Deer tick virus

5. "Ehrlichia muris-like" disease

Front 6

Name 2 kinds of ground cover that ticks like to hang out in.

Back 6

1. Wooded areas

2. Meadows and grassy areas

Front 7

1. Name the bacterium causing Lyme disease.

2. What is its morphology?

Back 7

1. Borrelia burgdorferi

2. Spirochete

Front 8

Name 4 complaints, following a tick bite, that should raise suspicions of a tick-borne illness.

Back 8

1. Fever

2. Rash

3. Headache

4. Body and/or joint aches (flu-like illness)

Front 9

During which months should we be on guard for ticks (all ticks, not just the woods tick)

Back 9

The warmer ones: April to September

Front 10

Though ticks can attach themselves anywhere on the body, name 5 spots where they especially like to attach themselves.

Back 10

1. Scalp

2. Behind the ears

3. Armpits

4. Groin

5. Popliteal fossae

Front 11

What's the best way to kill ticks hiding in your clothes?

Back 11

Place clothing in a dryer on "high" for at least one hour.

Front 12

Name 5 precautions that can be taken to prevent tick bites in tick country.

Back 12

1. In hi-risk areas, stay on well-groomed trails and avoid overgrown grass, brush, and leaf litter.

2. Wear light colored clothing so ticks stand out.

3. Daily tick checks of entire body after being outdoors.

4. Shower promptly after coming indoors

5. Remove or kill ticks in clothes.

Front 13

1. Name 3 insect repellents that the EPA has approved to repel ticks.

2. Where may they be applied?

Back 13

1. The 3:
a. DEET

b. Picardin

c. Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus

2. Can be applied to both clothing and skin

Front 14

Name a pesticide sometimes used as a tick repellent. Where is it applied?

Back 14

Permethrin, applied to clothes only.

Front 15

If an attached tick is found on the body, where are the tweezers (forceps) best placed for safe removal?

Back 15

Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out.

Front 16

Name 4 things to be avoided while manually removing ticks and why?

Back 16

1. Twisting or jerking while pulling (leaves mouth parts in)

2. Apply petroleum jelly (allows infection from bite)

3. Touching the tick with a hot match (You can get burned!)

4. Touching tick with other irritants (Ditto!)

Front 17

How can removed ticks be sent to Michigan state authorities for FREE identification? (2 steps)

Back 17

1. Place tick in a small vial containing a damp piece of tissue or bit of grass.

2. Follow directions and guidelines found at: www.michigan.gov/lyme.

Front 18

Name 6 areas on a pet's body that require special examination when checking for ticks.

Back 18

1. Ears

2. Chest

3. Underbelly

4. Legs

5. Feet (especially between toes)

6. Tail

Front 19

When checking a pet for ticks, how does one find them in all that fur?

Back 19

By running one's hands over the body with enough pressure to feel out bumps (Good luck doing that with Gangsta Cat Shunnu!)

Front 20

What can the veterinarian do to prevent Lyme disease in pets?

Back 20

A vaccine is available for use in endemic areas

Front 21

A tick infected with Borrelia burgdorferi needs to be attached how long before transmitting it to its host?

Back 21

36-48 hours

Front 22

1. Name a third tick species that is rare in Michigan but becoming more common over time.

2. Where is it found?

Back 22

1. Lone star tick (5 % of ticks submitted in MI)

2. Wooded areas with populations of white-tailed deer

Front 23

About how many patients will even recall having been bit by ticks?

Back 23

Less than half

Front 24

Name 3 diseases spread by the Lone star tick.

Back 24

1. *Erlichiosis

2. Rocky Mountain spotted fever

3. Tularemia