The argasid tick Carios (Ornithodoros) kelleyi Cooley & Kohls is a common ectoparasite of bats and has been found in massive numbers in homes with associated bat colonies in eastern Iowa. This tick feeds nearly exclusively on bats in nature. Several inhabitants of infested homes complained of “bug bites” at night while asleep that may have resulted in erythematous, edematous, urticaric skin lesions and constitutional signs and symptoms. We provide laboratory evidence that a single, engorged C. kelleyi nymph contained host blood from a human female. The clinical implications of our findings are intriguing but unclear.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 November 2004
Detection of Human Blood in the Bat Tick Carios (Ornithodoros) kelleyi (Acari: Argasidae) in Iowa
J. S. Gill,
W. A. Rowley,
P. J. Bush,
J. P. Viner,
M. J R. Gilchrist
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
It is not available for individual sale.
This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
It is not available for individual sale.
<
Previous Article
|
Journal of Medical Entomology
Vol. 41 • No. 6
November 2004
Vol. 41 • No. 6
November 2004
bats
Carios kelleyi
home infestation
human blood
skin lesions