Outside of these known areas, there is a small chance of encountering blacklegged ticks that have been dispersed by birds. The current distribution of known established populations can be found on our surveillance map. Throughout Manitoba, the greatest risk of coming in contact with a blacklegged tick is in areas where there are established blacklegged tick populations. American dog ticks do not transmit the disease causing agents of Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis and Lyme Disease.Īdult American dog (wood) ticks (bottom row) and blacklegged (deer) ticks (top row).Īdult female blacklegged tick at various stages of engorgement.īlacklegged tick nymphs at various stages of engorgement. American dog ticks have white markings on their backs while blacklegged ticks do not (Figure 2). Adult blacklegged ticks are smaller than the more common American dog tick (often called wood tick). Unfed adult female blacklegged ticks are approximately 3 to 5 mm in length and are distinctly bright red and dark brown in colour while adult males are smaller than females and are uniformly dark brown in colour (Figure 1). Photos reproduced with the permission of Robbin Lindsay, Public Health Agency of Canada. Sizes presented in relation to underlying 10-cent coin. (1-larva, 2-nymph, 3-adult male, 4-adult female). Unfed larvae and nymphs are light in colour and very difficult to see (Figure 1). Blood is required by the tick to move to the next stage. The life cycle of blacklegged ticks takes at least three years to complete and each stage usually survives for up to one year. People and some domestic animals are accidental hosts and can be exposed to the disease causing agent and become ill when they are fed upon by an infected blacklegged tick.īlacklegged ticks exist in three life stages: larva, nymph and adult. However, there is a risk for these ticks to transfer to you when handling the animal. Most wild animals do not become ill from these agents, nor can you become infected with tick-borne disease by consuming meat or handling the pelt from a wild animal. Animals such as rodents, small mammals and white-tailed deer are the reservoirs (the source) of the tick-borne disease causing agents and the blacklegged tick is the vector (the vehicle) which moves the disease agents between animals. Tick-borne diseases naturally circulate between blacklegged ticks and wild animals. This is why performing a tick check is so important. Therefore, transmission of the disease causing agents of Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis and Lyme disease typically require a minimum attachment period of at least 24 hours. And third, blacklegged ticks need time to prepare their bodies to significantly expand with blood and often do not start to feed for the first 24 hours after attaching themselves to a host (Figure 3 and 4). Second, only nymph and adult stages can transmit infection (larvae need to acquire the disease agent(s) when feeding). First, not all blacklegged ticks are infected with disease causing agents. If a blacklegged tick is infected with a tick-borne disease causing agent, it can pass this infection along to its host during feeding.Įven if you are bitten by a blacklegged tick the likelihood of disease transmission is not a certainty. As ticks feed, their bodies expand to accommodate the blood meal. Instead, they seek hosts by climbing on vegetation such as grasses or shrubs and waiting for a host to rub against them. When this occurs, they climb onto the host’s body and eventually attempt to attach and feed.īlacklegged ticks feed by attaching their mouth parts to the skin of an animal (including humans) and drinking blood very slowly over a period of days. Blacklegged ticks are parasitic animals which are related to spiders.
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