This case is intriguing because most of the reported cases of
tick-paralysis is due to ticks found at the base of the skull with their
mouth parts deeply imbedded in the skin. The tick's saliva is apparently
the cause of the paralysis because the patinets recover quickly after the
tick is removed. I seem to remember that the ticks should be killed in
such a manner that they relax their bite. If the tick is pulled off the
patient and the head remains attached, the paralysis persists and can
lead to death due to respiratory failure (C3, 4 & 5 keep you alive). I
don't remember however, if tick saliva is a neurotoxin to everyone or
only to people who are hypersensitive.
Steve
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/\ /\//\/######/ /\/#######\ ! Stephen G. Kayes, Ph.D. !
/\/ /\//\/ /\/ /\/ ! Structural & Cellular Biology !
/\/ /\//\/ /\/ /\/ ! University of South Alabama !
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