Organisms

Ticks

Blood-sucking acarid parasites of the order Ixodida comprising two families: the softbacked ticks (ARGASIDAE) and hardbacked ticks (IXODIDAE). Ticks are larger than their relatives, the MITES. They penetrate the skin of their host by means of highly specialized, hooked mouth parts and feed on its blood. Ticks attack all groups of terrestrial vertebrates. In humans they are responsible for many TICK-BORNE DISEASES, including the transmission of ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER; TULAREMIA; BABESIOSIS; AFRICAN SWINE FEVER; and RELAPSING FEVER. (From Barnes, Invertebrate Zoology, 5th ed, pp543-44)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Blood-sucking acarid parasites of the order Ixodida comprising two families: the softbacked ticks (ARGASIDAE) and hardbacked ticks (IXODIDAE). Ticks are larger than their relatives, the MITES. They penetrate the skin of their host by means of highly specialized, hooked mouth parts and feed on its blood. Ticks attack all groups of terrestrial vertebrates. In humans they are responsible for many TICK-BORNE DISEASES, including the transmission of ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER; TULAREMIA; BABESIOSIS; AFRICAN SWINE FEVER; and RELAPSING FEVER. (From Barnes, Invertebrate Zoology, 5th ed, pp543-44)

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

3 entry terms
  • Ixodida
  • Ixodidas
  • Tick

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

18 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings anatomy & histology, chemistry, classification, cytology, drug effects, embryology, enzymology, genetics, growth & development, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, parasitology, pathogenicity, physiology, radiation effects, ultrastructure, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

TICK BITES, TICK TOXICOSES and TICK PARALYSIS are available; tick vectors = ARACHNID VECTORS (IM) + TICKS (IM); infection = TICK INFESTATIONS; for chemicals for killing or controlling ticks use ACARICIDES

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References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Ticks. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D013987. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D013987
  2. Ticks. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tick
  3. Ticks. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10304508