Bibliographical studies on human cases of Hard Tick (Acarina: Ixodidae) bites in Japan (8) Whole aspect of Tick bite cases: 1941 to 2005 *
This paper reviews the literature on human hard tick infestation that occurred in Japan between 1941 and 2005. A total of 1223 cases (517 males, 583 females, and 123 unknown) were reported in the literature. Cases were distributed widely throughout Japan, with the highest incidence in Nagano Prefecture (30.2%) in central Japan. Tick infestation in the reported cases occurred most frequently between April and September (94.2%), with the highest incidence in June (29.6%). The age range of patients was 1 - 92 years, with the highest incidence in children under 9 years of age (17.5%). The most common infestation sites were the trunk (45.7%), the head and neck regions (37.4%), particularly the eyelid (9.4%), and the abdomen (8.1%). In majority of the cases, tick bites were acquired in mountainous areas. In the present report, 189 cases (90 boys, 98 girls, and 1 unknown) of infestation in children (under the age of 9) and 18 cases (8 males, 10 females) of multi-infestation (involving 10 or more hard ticks) are discussed in detail. (Accepted on Febrary 25, 2012)
