A Case Study of External Auditory Meatus Infestation with Hard Tick (Acarina: Ixodidae) Found in Okayama Prefecture, Japan
A rare human case of auditory meatus infestation with hard tick (Acarina: Ixodidae) found in Okayama Prefecture, Japan is reported. On July 8th, 1995, the patient (a 45-year-old housewife) living in Kurashiki City, Okayama, presented to Ear Nose Throat Clinic, complaining of auditory discomfort and marked depression of hearing acuity of left ear. By otological examination, hard tick bite was found on the under wall of lower portion of left external auditory meatus of the patient. The removed tick body from the patient measured 8.0 mm in length and 7.0 mm in maximum width in the mounted specimen. By acarological observation, the tick was identified as an adult female of Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann, 1901 based on morphological characteristics of capitulum (hypostome and palps), scutum, internal and external spurs on coxae and spiracular plates. The tick bite was thought to have been occurred in hillside path nearby her residence. The present report is the 22nd human case of hard tick infestation in Okayama Prefecture, Japan since 1982.
