What should a removed tick look like? - briefly
A correctly removed tick is whole, with its head and mouthparts intact, resembling a small, engorged oval that may range from the size of a grain of rice to a pea. If any segment of the mouthpart remains embedded in the skin, additional extraction is needed.
What should a removed tick look like? - in detail
A tick that has been fully extracted should be intact, without any portion of its mouthparts remaining embedded in the skin. The body will appear as a small, oval or round structure, typically ranging from 2 mm (unengorged) to 10 mm (fully engorged) in length. The dorsal surface is usually brown to dark brown, sometimes with a lighter scutum on the back of adult females. Legs should be visible at the posterior end and move freely when the specimen is gently tapped.
The ventral side must display a complete hypostome—the barbed feeding tube—and the palps that guide it into the host. If the hypostome is missing or broken, the tick has not been completely removed and may leave residual tissue capable of transmitting pathogens.
Key characteristics indicating a successful removal:
- Whole body present, no missing sections.
- Mouthparts (hypostome, palps) fully attached to the tick.
- Legs intact and articulated.
- No visible blood clots or tissue adhering to the tick’s exterior.
Signs that the extraction was incomplete:
- Visible bite mark or ulcer at the attachment site.
- Tick body appears truncated, especially at the front.
- Persistent redness or swelling around the bite after 24 hours.
- Presence of a small, hard fragment embedded in the skin.
After inspection, place the tick in a sealed container with 70 % isopropyl alcohol for identification or future testing. Document the date of removal, the host’s location, and any symptoms experienced. If any of the incomplete‑removal indicators are present, seek medical advice promptly, as residual mouthparts can increase the risk of disease transmission.