Sunday, February 7, 2016

Case of the Week 384

We're on a roll with arthropods! This week's case was donated by Dr. Ellen Stromdahl. This arthropod was removed from a patient and sent to her lab for analysis. It was beautifully photographed by Graham Snodgrass.

Identification?
Bonus points if you can tell what is going on with this tick (hint, it's a rarely-captured stage of the life cycle).



8 comments:

Sheldon Campbell said...

Without a scale, it's hard to say exactly what stage of this Ambloyomma (Lone Star) tick we're seeing.

Anonymous said...

The Lone Star tick, Amblyomma americanum. Is it molting?
BW in VT

Anonymous said...

It's a female Amblyoma americanum, by the marking on the small scutum and mouth parts.

Florida Fan

Anonymous said...

Lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum)nymph about to molt/molting to an adult female? I see the ornate spot on the scutum which suggests an adult female of this species, but it looks like there is some sort of integument covering the tick.

As mentioned earlier, a scale would be needed as well as closer inspection to make a better determination. Where and when was this collected?

Med. Ent. student in MS

Anonymous said...

Lone Star female, engorged..Molting?? Cannot make out the hard scutum.

Lee

RastaBob said...

Hi Bobbi - I was reviewing our CAP TMO survey and just noticed that you provided many of the photos used - very nice shots!

ParasiteGal said...

Hi RastaBob, glad you like the images! My friend Blaine (who regularly donates poems for my blog) is also on the CAP Microbiology Resource Committee and is now taking the lead on the TMO survey. So you'll be seeing pictures from him as well.

Jon said...

A. americanum female, partially engorged.