page_title: Ixodes holocyclus
section_title: Tick removal
hierarchical_section_title: Ixodes holocyclus / Tick removal
caption_attribution_description: English: Removal of the tick. By compressing the mouthparts (and not the body of the tick) one avoids squeezing more allergens, toxins and infectious micro-organisms into the host.
context_page_description: Ixodes holocyclus, commonly known as the Australian paralysis tick, is one of about 75 species of Australian tick fauna and is considered the most medically important. It can cause paralysis by injecting neurotoxins into its host. It is usually found in a 20-kilometre wide band following the eastern coastline of Australia. Within this range Ixodes holocyclus is the tick most frequently encountered by humans and their pets. As this area also contains the majority of Australia's most densely populated regions, incidents of bites on people, pets and livestock are relatively common.
  Paralysis ticks are found in many types of habitat particularly areas of high rainfall such as wet sclerophyll forest and temperate rainforest. The natural hosts for the paralysis tick include koalas, bandicoots, possums and kangaroos.
context_section_description: Debate around the best method of tick removal is based around two main concerns. The first is that the method of removal could cause further injection of noxious substances (allergens, paralysing toxins and infectious micro-organisms). The second is that the method may leave the 'head' (really just the tick's mouthparts) embedded in the skin.
  The tick's salivary glands and gut contents are together the main source of the noxious substances and these are located in the main body of the tick. It is thought that any irritation of the tick might cause it to either inject saliva or regurgitate gut contents or that any compression the body of the tick might squeeze saliva and gut contents into the host.
  Specifically, application of methylated spirit, nail polish remover, turpentine or tea-tree oil is thought to irritate the tick and make it inject more of the noxious substances. Spreading butter or oil over the tick is no longer recommended either. Application of pyrethrin (or pyrethroid) insecticides has been suggested 'as a narcotic and a toxicant, which prevents the tick from injecting its saliva'  but with this method the tick may remain physically attached for 24 hrs before it drops off dead. Do not use pyrethrin containing products on cats as this is a toxin for felines.
  Leaving the mouthparts (incorrectly referred to as 'the head') embedded in the skin is usually of lesser concern. If left embedded the mouthparts cause a foreign body reaction and are usually eventually sloughed like a splinter. It has been noted that when Ixodes holocyclus is forcibly extracted the feeding tube (the hypostome) is usually damaged which suggests that part of its tip remains embedded in the skin.
  In sensitive areas of the body (e.g. eyelids) touching the tick can make its presence become suddenly painful.
  Before removal
  If a person has difficulty removing a tick, or has reason to be concerned about allergic reactions, it is best to seek professional medical attention. The process of removing ticks in humans has been associated with anaphylactic reactions and so it is best to have appropriate medical supplies (oxygen, adrenaline) ready.
  Instruct children to seek adult help for proper tick removal
  Wear thin disposable gloves if available
  Avoid unnecessary touching of the tick's body
  If freezing ether-spray is available
  For adult ticks, freezing them with an ether-containing spray (available at pharmacies and used for warts) is recommended for humans.
  Once killed, they can either be carefully removed (without squeezing the body) or allowed to drop off.
  If freezing ether-spray is not available
  Grasp the tick's mouthparts as close to the skin as possible using fine, curved forceps but avoid squeezing the body. Normal household tweezers are not recommended - they are in fact tick squeezers!
  Grasp very firmly (because the long feeding tube of Ixodes holocyclus is deeply embedded and has reverse barbs)
  Other methods of grasping the tick
  A specialised tick removal tool. Tools include tick hooks, tick scoops, tick tweezers, and tick loops. These are usually inexpensive and often used in areas where ticks are prevalent.
  Loop of thread. This can sometimes be difficult to place without disturbing the tick.
  Monofilament fishing line. The Centers for Disease Control tested this method with a high success rate, though on a limited cohort.
  After removal
  Apply antiseptic to the bite site (and disinfect the tick removal instrument)
  Save the tick in a small airtight container with moist paper or a leaf or blade of grass. Label with the date removed and the locality where the tick was acquired. The tick can be identified later if you develop illness, especially in the following 4 weeks. (Note that an engorged female will deposit eggs within a few weeks and these will hatch into thousands of larvae which can escape the container if not properly sealed.)
  Look for more ticks (both on humans and on pets)
  Removing larval ticks
  Larval ticks are usually present in large numbers
  For the larval (and nymph stage) ticks you may use permethrin cream (available at pharmaci
caption: Tick removal. Compressing the body of the tick could cause more noxious substance (allergens, salivary toxins and infectious micro-organisms) to be injected into the host.
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