ENT 374- Midterm Exam Guide - Comprehensive Notes for the exam ( 16 pages long!)

142 views16 pages

Document Summary

Two families of medical and veterinary importance. Transmits more infectious organisms than any other vector. Described as ectoparasites for birds, reptiles and mammals. Second only to mosquitoes in terms of public health and veterinary importance. Ticks are the leading vector of human diseases in the united states. Have a hard shell referred to as a dorsal shield or scutum. Details of an individual tick life cycles considerably vary. All ticks have 4 life stages: egg, larvae, nymph, adult. Ixodidae egg, larva, nymph (single molt), adult. Argasidae egg, larvae, nymph (multiple molts), adult. Larva: hexapods (3 pairs of walking legs) Nymphs: 4 pairs of legs, not sexually mature. Adults: 4 pairs of legs, genital apertures are formed. A single female can 1,000(s) of eggs. Hatching depends on temperature, humidity and other environmental factors. Wax is applied to each egg by the gene"s organ. The larvae or seed ticks have only 6 legs. Must find a host in order to survive.