Andrew Hebda shares his knowledge of ticks
Humour, enthusiasm and lots of pictures of ugly parasites… It’s all part of a fascinating presentation when Andrew Hebda gets on the subject of ticks.
Hebda, curator of zoology at the Nova Scotia Museum, spoke at a public event hosted by Fundy Veterinarians at Cobequid District Fire Hall Monday.
“ e most important thing to remember is a tick issue is not a 911 issue, it’s an 811 issue,” he said. “Even if you encounter a tick, even if you’re bitten by a tick, even if you have potential disease transmission, it’s not something where you have to run o to hospital.
“It’s something with which you’ve got time to think, time to plan, and time to respond.”
ere are 14 species of tick established in Nova Scotia, but of the main four it’s the black-legged tick that causes most concern, because it can carry Lyme disease.
“Where they’re established, 25 per cent to 40 per cent of blacklegged ticks carry Lyme,” said Hebda. “In Bedford, 25 per cent carry Lyme, and that means 75 per cent aren’t.”
As they feed, a tick’s salivary glands produce an analgesic that numbs pain, an anticoagulant that keeps blood owing, and an anti-in ammatory that prevents swelling.
If Lyme concentrates in salivary glands it is transmitted along with these, but the tick has to be feeding for at least 36 hours for this to happen.”
ey’re hard to get o because they secrete a bio cement made of collagen under the host’s skin. When they’re full, ticks release an agent that dissolves the bio cement.
It’s important not to squeeze a tick, said Hebda – even if it’s not carrying Lyme, it can release other things into the host’s body. Andrew Hebda iscurator of zoology at the Nova Scotia Museum. During his presentation in Lower Truro, he showed people how to identify the various ticks found in Nova Scotia.
Hebda recommends the simple tick removal tools that are available, or using tweezers and grasping the tick where it’s attached to the host, without squeezing the body.
“Some people think they can get the tick to let go by making it dizzy,” he said. “ ey don’t have a head. No head, no ears. No ears, no inner ears. They don’t get dizzy.”
Ticks head to warm areas of the body like armpits, elbows, groin, back of knees, and butt crack. Only females feed, but males will get on mammals while they’re searching for females.
ey have been found on cattle, horses and sheep, but only attached around the muzzle and eyes.
When ticks are in the larval form, they’re found on small mammals, such as mice, and birds. In the nymph and adult stages, they’re found on larger mammals.
It’s suspected ticks arrived on migratory birds, and they’re more common along migration patterns. Many are now being moved by people, with high concentrations showing up at roadside picnic parks.
“Lyme is a serious issue but you can minimize risk,” said Hebda. “You can use something with DEET or Icaridin. These aren’t repellents. They work by blocking the parasite’s ability to sense chemicals like lactic acid.”
Wearing long sleeves and closed shoes, and having trousers tucked into socks are recommended when possible.
“They’re here and you’re not going to get rid of them, so either eliminate your exposure to them by staying in your house, staying on cement, keeping on the path, or just enjoying the outdoors and when you come in, do a check,” said Hebda.
“Check your entire body, and ask someone to check areas you can’t see. It takes 12 to 24 hours for them to get into a feeding position, so check again the next day. Ticks are around, but you can still enjoy the outdoors.”