Arthropods play a significant role as vectors of many pathogenic microorganisms. Mosquito-borne, tick-borne and flea-borne diseases occur in Texas. Mosquito-borne diseases are encephalitides caused by West Nile virus (WNV), St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus, western equine encephalitis (WEE) virus, eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus, and California encephalitis virus; Dengue fever; malaria; and Yellow fever.

Any insect that feeds on blood has the potential of transmitting disease organisms from human to human. Mosquitoes are highly developed blood-sucking insects and are the most formidable transmitters of disease in the animal kingdom. Mosquito-borne diseases are caused by human parasites that have a stage in their life cycle that enters the blood stream. The female mosquito picks up the blood stage of the parasite when she imbibes blood to develop her eggs. See similar questions...

Yes, moles rarely but sometimes can be carriers of rabies. Rabies, a virus, progressively paralyzes and can kill any mammal, including humans. Rabies is generally contracted through contact with an infected mole through biting. Though humans should avoid contact with any mole, if a mole seems especially fearless around humans, it could be infected. Call United Wildlife mole control immediately for professional mole removal. See similar questions...

These "vectors" have been shown to carry a variety of disease-causing organisms. Some of these organisms are the cause of Salmonellosis, Shigellosis, Leptrospirosis, and a variety of other food-borne illnesses. The problem with rodent bait in a food facility is that rodents may carry the poisonous bait in their mouths and drop the bait throughout the facility, contaminating food, food contact surfaces, and food related items. See similar questions...

Feral goats carry many parasites such as cestodes, nematodes and protozoans. The degree of cross-infection between feral goats and stock is not known but thought to be fairly low except in well-watered pastures where stocking rates are high. However, feral goats are usually not common in these areas. Feral goats can also carry a wide range of bacterial and viral diseases such as the bacterium that cause melioidosis. See similar questions...

Hard-bodied ticks are carriers of several diseases that affect man and domesticated animals, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and ehrlichiosis. These diseases can be treated with antibiotics if diagnosed early. Notify your physician if you develop flu-like symptoms two to 21 days after a tick bite. For more information on these and other diseases carried by ticks, please refer to the following link: CDC: Lyme Disease See similar questions...

Geese do carry diseases, including swimmer’s itch, histoplasmosis, toxoplasmosis, and giardia. These goose illnesses are spread by contact with goose poop, nest materials and dead geese. When geese live in your pond, swimming pool or nearby lake, parasites that live on the geese will infest the water and climb aboard swimmers, giving them swimmer’s itch. The parasite larvae crawl onto the skin and burrow under it, which leads to a very severe, itchy red rash. See similar questions...

Wild armadillos have been known to be infected with the bacterium that causes leprosy (Hansen's disease). The only cases of transmission from armadillos to humans have occurred in rare incidents in which people ate undercooked armadillo meat. See similar questions...

The main disease problem in foxes is Mange, this cannot be transmitted to humans or cats. In theory fox mange could be caught by dog, but in practice it doesn't. The UK has been completely rabies free for many years and there are well prepared contingency plans for deal with any possible outbreak. See similar questions...

From April to July, depending on altitude, ticks become prevalent. About 1/8" in diameter, reddish brown and flat, they may carry the Colorado Tick Fever virus. If you find one embedded in your skin, gently pull it off, and call a physician if you develop symptoms like fever, headache or muscle aches. See similar questions...

No. People often think that because a tick often attaches in the head, that the tick has jumped out of the trees. As ticks are susceptible to desiccation, they tend not to climb very high in the vegetation. Once on a host, the tick may take several hours before finding a site to attach to, which is often on the head. Ticks do not have legs that are adapted for jumping. (BACK) See similar questions...

Ticks become infected with the Lyme disease spirochete by feeding on the blood of animals that have the disease. See similar questions...

You bet they do. You should look for ticks periodically during the day and do a really good job of bathing and looking for ticks at the end of each day. Many people take their family dogs with them nowadays. The dogs need a good check also as they will transport ticks to your vehicle and home. Snakes are out, but they are not much of a threat to a person stomping around and running a chainsaw. The vast majority of snakes abhor seeing a human as much or more than a human dislikes snakes. See similar questions...

Mosquitoes kill more than one million people each year with the deadly diseases they transmit. These diseases include malaria, filariasis, dengue fever, yellow fever, and encephalitis (mainly the St. Louis and Eastern Equine strains). They can also transmit heartworm to dogs and cats. However, not all mosquitoes carry diseases. Each disease is transmitted by only a few species of mosquito. Here in Florida and Charlotte county, we mainly focus on St. See similar questions...

Yes. There are several other viruses circulating among mosquitoes in Ohio that can cause encephalitis. St. Louis Encephalitis, which is closely related to WNV, caused a major epidemic in 1975, resulting in 416 human cases and 29 fatalities. Every year, about 14 Ohioans, primarily children, are affected with La Crosse Encephalitis. In 1991, an outbreak of Eastern Equine Encephalitis affected horses in the Killbuck Marsh area in Holmes and Wayne Counties. See similar questions...