Bibliographical studies on human cases of Hard Tick (Acarina: Ixodidae) bites in Japan (6) Cases in infestation with rare Tick species *
This paper reviewed the significant literature on human infestation with rare hard ticks (twelve species belonging to six genera, viz., five of Haemaphysalis, three of Ixodes, one each of Argas, Boophilus, Dermacentor and Rhipicephalus, and one of an unidentified species) occurring in Japan between 1942 and 2005. A total of 23 patients (9 males, 11 females, 3 unknown) were reported in the literature. The patients were distributed widely in Japan except for the Hokkaido district. The highest incidence of cases was found in Toyama Prefecture (17.4%) in central Japan. The tick infestation of the reported cases most frequently occurred in the period from May to August, with the highest incidence being found in May (22.2%). The age range of patients was from 1 to 80 years of age, and the highest incidence was found in persons in the forties (25.0%). The most common infestation site of the patients was on the skin of the trunk (45.0%), and the head region (35.0%), particularly the eyelids (15.0%). The tick bites in the majority of the cases were principally acquired in mountainous areas. (Accepted on March 2, 2010)
