Acarina (2006) 14, 203-208

A.N. Alekseev and H.V. Dubinina (2006)
Evidence that tick attachment to the human body isn't random
Acarina 14 (2), 203-208
Abstract: An assumption that the attachment of tick to the human body is both non-random and painless was based on correlations discovered between different factors and the structure of the tick gnathosome receptor. Pearson correlation between data on tick attachment points (I) and data on confirmed cases of tick-borne encephalitis in the Russian Far East (1956-1985) after the single 'bite' at the same points was 0.953. Correlation between I and data of number of biological active points (BAP) on the body, known as a painless for needle therapy was 0.997. Resistance of the points where Ixodes persulcatus attempted to attach (80-150 k-Omega) was previously measured by the use of an Acupuncture Analyser (Fyodorova and Kosenko 2000). To verify the correctness of hypothesis that tick attachment points are not random and that tick 'bite' is painless an experiment was performed with pathogen free hungry Ixodes ricinus females (F2, total number of tick 26). The torso of author, naked to the waist, was used to track, their length (measured by curvimeter) and speed of tick movement. The mean impedance value of the probing points was 172+/-3.2 k-Omega. The female (track 12 cm, speed 12 cm/min) began to attach at a BAP (acupuncture point VB-24 on the Thai-Vang meridian) with impedance 170 k-Omega. This 'bite' was painless. Only careful observation allowed the tick mouthparts to be seen plunging inside-the skin. Long and speedy search of attachment points, many probing (max. 7) as well as absence of pain during attachment at one of BAP permitted the conclusion that the initial assumption was correct.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Andrey N. Alekseev

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Ixodes ricinus
	Ixodes persulcatus