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TICK IDENTIFICATION #805971

Asked August 12, 2022, 3:01 PM EDT

I flew last week to Michigan for my 60th high school reunion and returned to West Linn, Oregon late Tuesday night. On Thursday I discovered a hard spot on my head and thought it was a scab. It lifted off and when I looked, it was, unfortunately, a tick. I went walking in some grassy fields in Michigan last Saturday. Although I checked myself that night I didn't realize they could hide in your hair. Meanwhile my dog was in a local kennel. I speculated she could have picked up a tick there. And then again, I live on small acreage and could also have picked one up at home. I am hoping you can give me a definitive identification and let me know if it is an Oregon tick or a hitchhiker from Michigan. When trying to identify it, myself, from photos on line, it appears to be an American dog tick?? If so, that would mean it came from Michigan and has been on me for 5 days? Thanks for your help!

Clackamas County Oregon

Expert Response

Hi Maya,

Nice job on the photos!
What I can tell from your photos is that the tick that bit you is a male from the genus Dermacentor (the genus the American dog tick is in, but there are other species in that genus as well). You will be relieved to hear that ticks in this genus cannot transmit Lyme disease--only ticks in the genus Ixodes can do that.

Ticks in the genus Dermacentor can transmit other diseases (Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, etc.), but instances of these diseases are considerably lower, so I think you will be fine. You can discuss these results with your doctor though and see if they would recommend anything.

Sorry, but I cannot determine which Dermacentor species that is from the photos, and I can't tell where you picked it up. 

Hope that helps at least a bit.
Yours,
Bill Gerth Replied August 12, 2022, 5:58 PM EDT

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