ID#: 10877
Caption:
This image depicts a dorsal view of a male Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum. This tick species is a known vector for Rickettsial organisms, Rickettsia parkeri, and Ehrlichia ruminantium, formerly Cowdria ruminantium. R. parkeri is a member of the spotted fever group of rickettsial diseases affecting humans, while E. ruminantium causes heartwater disease, an infectious, noncontagious, tick-borne disease of domestic and wild ruminants, including cattle, sheep, goats, antelope, and buffalo. Note the considerably larger scutum, or shield covering this male’s entire dorsal abdomen, unlike its female counterpart, an example of which can be seen in PHIL 10875, and 10876, which sports a scutum covering only a small caudad section of her dorsal abdomen just behind her head. The smaller scutum in the female enables its abdomen to expand considerably, leading to an engorged appearance after ingesting a blood meal.
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Content Provider(s): CDC/ Dr. Christopher Paddock
Creation Date: 2008
Photo Credit: James Gathany
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Copyright Restrictions: None - This image is in the public domain and thus free of any copyright restrictions.