Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
Humans are not the preferred natural host, but the adult ticks, containing the bacterium known to cause Lyme disease, can attach to humans and allow for transmission of the bacterium. [5] Ticks are found around the world, with suggestions that climate change and globalization of travel and commerce may be broadening their scope of residence. [6]
Ticks are widely distributed around the world, especially in warm, humid climates. Ticks belong to two major families, the Ixodidae or hard ticks, and the Argasidae, or soft ticks. Nuttalliella, a genus of tick from southern Africa, is the only member of the family Nuttalliellidae, and represents the most primitive living lineage of ticks ...
The occurrence of ticks and tick-borne illnesses in humans is increasing. [7] Tick populations are spreading into new areas, in part due to climate change . [ 8 ] [ 9 ] Tick populations are also affected by changes in the populations of their hosts (e.g. deer, cattle, mice, lizards) and those hosts' predators (e.g. foxes).
Humans can also be infected through bioterrorism attempts. [15] Francisella tularensis can live both within and outside the cells of the animal it infects, meaning it is a facultative intracellular bacterium. [16] It primarily infects macrophages, a type of white blood cell, and thus is able to evade the immune system.
Ticks and lice form another large group of invertebrate vectors. The bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme Disease, is transmitted by ticks and members of the bacterial genus Rickettsia are transmitted by lice. For example, the human body louse transmits the bacterium Rickettsia prowazekii which causes epidemic typhus.
Dermacentor variabilis, also known as the American dog tick or wood tick, is a species of tick that is known to carry bacteria responsible for several diseases in humans, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia (Francisella tularensis). It is one of the best-known hard ticks. Diseases are spread when it sucks blood from the host.
“Instilling a blanket ‘dangerous world’ philosophy into our kids’ hearts and minds won’t serve them well in the future,” Reynolds says. She reiterates that communication is imperative.
Ticks like habitats with at least 85% humidity and can only practice host questing at temperatures greater than 7 °C (45 °F). [7] In order to find microclimates that are suitable ticks will use thermoreceptors to detect these proper conditions. [7] One region with especially suitable climate for ticks is the northeastern United States.