Ticks are ectoparasites, belonging to the arachnid class. They survive by feeding on the blood of humans. Ticks are mostly found in shady, damp, brushy, wooded, or grassy areas, especially in tall grass. This also includes your own backyard. Ticks feed by perching in low vegetation and waiting for a susceptible host on which they can attach themselves and feed.
From the perspective of disease transmission to humans, the essential characteristic of ticks is their need to ingest a blood meal to transform to their next stage of development. Once on a host, the tick inserts its hypostome, a central piercing element with hooks, into the host’s skin. Some ticks secrete a cementing material to fasten themselves to the host.
The Relapsing Fever (TBRF) Western Blot is a sensitive indicator of an exposure to Relapsing Fever Borrelia. The TBRF Western Blot should be performed on patients with Lyme-like symptoms but negative on all Lyme tests.
Common Conditions:
- Headache
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Pain
- Short-term memory problems
- Joint or muscle aches
- Dizziness
