An Additional Case Study of Child Infestation with the Hard Tick Haemophysalis flava (Acarina : Ixodidae) Found in Okayama, Japan
An additional case of child infestation with the hard tick (Acarina : Ixodidae) is reported. On June 30th, 1987, the hard tick bite was found on the skin surface of left vertex region of a healthy 4-year- old boy residing in Kuse-cho, Okayama, Japan. The removed tick body measured about 6.0 mm in length and 4.5 mm in maximum width including capitulum. On acarological observations the tick was identified as an adult female of Haemophysalis flava Neumann, 1897 based on morphological characteristics of scutum, coxae, internal spurs and spiracular plates. Although detailed route of infestation is not clear, this is the fourth case of human infestation with hard tick in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.
