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1 November 2004 Detection of Human Blood in the Bat Tick Carios (Ornithodoros) kelleyi (Acari: Argasidae) in Iowa
J. S. Gill, W. A. Rowley, P. J. Bush, J. P. Viner, M. J R. Gilchrist
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Abstract

The argasid tick Carios (Ornithodoros) kelleyi Cooley & Kohls is a common ectoparasite of bats and has been found in massive numbers in homes with associated bat colonies in eastern Iowa. This tick feeds nearly exclusively on bats in nature. Several inhabitants of infested homes complained of “bug bites” at night while asleep that may have resulted in erythematous, edematous, urticaric skin lesions and constitutional signs and symptoms. We provide laboratory evidence that a single, engorged C. kelleyi nymph contained host blood from a human female. The clinical implications of our findings are intriguing but unclear.

J. S. Gill, W. A. Rowley, P. J. Bush, J. P. Viner, and M. J R. Gilchrist "Detection of Human Blood in the Bat Tick Carios (Ornithodoros) kelleyi (Acari: Argasidae) in Iowa," Journal of Medical Entomology 41(6), 1179-1181, (1 November 2004). https://doi.org/10.1603/0022-2585-41.6.1179
Received: 8 March 2004; Accepted: 1 August 2004; Published: 1 November 2004
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KEYWORDS
bats
Carios kelleyi
home infestation
human blood
skin lesions
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