The Understanding of the Tick and the dangers of Lymes Disease

Phylum: Arthropoda
Higher Class: Parasitiformes
Name: Lxodida

(note: this will be a shorter post, due to time limit. I try to write the most important areas.)

It started in the 2000s, the rise of Lyme disease (borreliosis). Most cases are found in the east coast and east north central states. The reason may be because of the habitat of these states. Let's take a look at the insect that causes Lyme disease.

There are over 850 different species of ticks, 90 of them are in the United States. The female will look for a host using her senses to sense carbon dioxide that humans and animals give off. She needs to get enough blood to reproduce eggs (remember only females feed on blood, like other insects. This may be due to the rich iron. For a better understanding, female humans also need rich iron). The female tick causes disease, and not males, for they do not feed on hosts. When a female is ready to lay her eggs, she will drop off the host and lay thousands. At larval stage is called the seed tick (they have six legs at this time).
Females live three years, but only eat three meals
Ticks need moisture place to live like forests. They will climb on tall grass (only 18-24 inches high). They also live in the gardens. They cannot jump, so they wait until a host (animal or human) come by.
Not all ticks have the disease. When they feed on mice or other mammals that have been infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, they will have it in their system.

Lyme disease is not the only disease that ticks carry. Tickborne diseases include Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain, Spotted fever, Tularemia, to name most of them.

Deer ticks won't survive 24 hours if unfed. Ticks on moist clothing can survive 2-3 days. Ticks that have fed on a blood meal can survive longer. Most only live up to 3 years.
When sucking blood, they will ingest the pathogen with the blood.

How do I protect myself and my pets against ticks?

Understand, the more your pet is outside (near woods), the higher the chance it will get ticks. Outside cats are at the highest point, due to walking in tall grass and different areas. Your pet can also get ticks from walking in the woody areas (as my dog did). Try to look around your pet after they go out or walks. Ticks like the neck area the best.
Giving your pet medicine for fleas and ticks. There are topical medicines that you put on to neck all down to the tail, this can last to 30 days. Shampoo and powders are less effective, but can be used with treatments.

The most effective is the pill form. It can start its effect within 4-5 hours after taking it. They are more expensive and most are vet needed.

If your pet is out a lot, Flea and Tick collars are very effective, just look for the word "kill" with the word "prevent"

Humans aren't common for ticks to attach themselves on, but it does happen. Bacteria: Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia mayonii, Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii bacteria. The four species of bacteria that causes Lyme disease, the tick must bite you to actually get the bacteria. Ticks can be attached to you for 36 hours to a few days (until they get the most blood they need). So what are ways to prevent it?

Unfortunately, there are no medicines (like for pets) for people to use. There are sprays though (there are sprays for pets as well).
The best tick repellent is called "Nantucket Spider Tick Repelling" spray. It's natural, and many people reported that it works the best. It is also the first and top choice by Pest Strategies. You can use other sprays that help prevent/kill ticks.

Cover up yourself, wearing long clothes, semi-thick should help prevent ticks from hooking up on your skin. Although they might hook up on your clothes, you can easily shake them off.
Always check yourself after going outside (especially if you near the woods). You won't feel the tick, because they have secrete novel pain killers, called kininases, in their saliva which help them go unnoticed. This also is seen in some mosquitos (female).
A red mark that are itchy is seen after being bitten.

Read up about the species of ticks that are common in your area. Read up on different state's insects and most common insect diseases of that state (and what year and season was the highest).

What happens if you don't get help?

Lymes disease is nothing to mess with, and especially when it doesn't get treated. Lymes disease is a bacterial infection, so all bacteria can become worse. Untreated Lymes can cause the bacteria to go to your brain, heart, and joints.

Stage 2 can cause: Numbness or pain in the nerve area, Paralysis or weakness in the muscles of the face, Heart problems, such as skipped heartbeats (palpitations), chest pain, or shortness of breath
Symptoms of late disseminated stage 3 can occur months or years after the infection, and can cause: Abnormal muscle movement, Joint swelling, Muscle weakness. Numbness and tingling, Speech problems, Thinking (cognitive) problems

Stage 3 (late disseminated) can cause long-term joint inflammation (Lyme arthritis), heart rhythm problems, Brain and nervous system problems. These can include: Decreased concentration, memory disorders, nerve damage, paralysis of the face muscles, sleeping disorders and sometimes sight problems

Lymes can cause serious heart (cardiac) issues, and most people die of the heart effect of Lymes disease. People with weak immune systems or long-term heart issues are at a higher risk.

There are some people that don't see Lymes disease as a serious issue, due mostly because of the symptoms were flu-like. That shouldn't stop people. The Flu (influenza) can kill and has killed over 49,000 people and 700,000 people in the hospital. The flu actually affected healthy young men. It came out of nowhere, and children were more likely to get over it. This made doctors and scientists very confused. No one should be afraid to go in for a Lymes test, even though they might not have it, it's a good sign. Remember tuberculosis (which I had when I was younger) starts off as a cough, over time it gets worse and to the point of death. Not feeling well is always a sign from your body that something is not normal and it's hard for the body to fight and needs help.

Posted on March 24, 2019 02:38 PM by backyardcreature