Identification of Hard Ticks in the United States: A Practical Guide for Clinicians and Pathologists

Authors

Alvaro C. Laga, Harvard Medical School
Thomas N. Mather, University of Rhode Island
Roland J. Duhaime, University of Rhode Island
Scott R. Granter, Harvard Medical School

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

3-1-2022

Abstract

According to guidelines published by the Infectious Disease Society of America, Lyme disease prophylaxis is possible if a tick can be identified as Ixodes scapularis (nymphal or adult) within 72 hours of tick removal. However, a recent survey of medical practitioners indicates generally poor proficiency in tick identification. In this study, we provide a simple, practical guide to aid medical practitioners in identifying the most commonly encountered human biting ticks of North America.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

American Journal of Dermatopathology

Volume

44

Issue

3

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Laga, Alvaro C., Thomas N. Mather, Roland J. Duhaime, and Scott R. Granter. "Identification of Hard Ticks in the United States: A Practical Guide for Clinicians and Pathologists." American Journal of Dermatopathology 44, 3 (2022). doi: 10.1097/DAD.0000000000002005.