Ixodes
Ixodes
Ixodes (pronunciation: /ɪkˈsoʊdiːz/) is a genus of hard-bodied ticks (family Ixodidae). It is one of the most diverse genera of ticks, with over 245 species.
Etymology
The name Ixodes comes from the Greek word 'ixodes', meaning sticky or gluey, a reference to the tick's ability to adhere to its host.
Description
Ixodes ticks are distinguished by the presence of a hard, shield-like scutum, a characteristic of the family Ixodidae. They are ectoparasites, feeding on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians.
Life Cycle
The life cycle of Ixodes ticks includes four stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. Each stage after hatching requires a blood meal to progress to the next.
Medical Significance
Ixodes ticks are of significant medical importance as they are vectors for a number of diseases, including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. The most well-known species in this genus is Ixodes scapularis, the black-legged tick or deer tick, which is the primary vector for Lyme disease in North America.
Related Terms
- Tick: A small arachnid in the order Ixodida. Ticks are ectoparasites, living by feeding on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians.
- Ixodidae: The family of hard-bodied ticks, which includes the genus Ixodes.
- Lyme disease: An infectious disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks.
- Anaplasmosis: A tick-borne disease caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum.
- Babesiosis: A malaria-like parasitic disease caused by infection with Babesia, a genus of protozoa.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ixodes
- Wikipedia's article - Ixodes
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