Who, besides ticks, can attach to a human? - briefly
Various ectoparasites can attach to humans, including lice, mites (such as scabies and chiggers), fleas, botfly larvae, leeches, and certain sandflies or horseflies. These organisms adhere for feeding, reproduction, or development, often causing irritation or disease.
Who, besides ticks, can attach to a human? - in detail
Various ectoparasites and opportunistic organisms can adhere to human skin, feed, or cause irritation. Their attachment strategies differ, yet each presents a potential health concern.
- Leeches (Hirudinea) – attach with suction cups, secrete anticoagulants, may transmit bacterial infection.
- Mites (Acari) – include chiggers (Trombiculidae) that embed larval mouthparts, and the scabies mite (Sarcoptes scabiei) that burrows into the epidermis.
- Lice (Pediculus and Pthirus) – cling to hair shafts, use claws to maintain position, feed on blood.
- Fleas (Siphonaptera) – jump onto hosts, bite and ingest blood, can transmit Yersinia pestis or Bartonella.
- Sandflies (Psychodidae) – land on skin, pierce with proboscis, transmit Leishmania parasites.
- Horseflies and deerflies (Tabanidae) – attach briefly, cause painful bites, may transmit Anaplasma.
- Botflies (Oestridae) – deposit eggs on skin; emerging larvae penetrate tissue, causing myiasis.
- Bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) – crawl onto exposed skin, insert proboscis, feed nocturnally.
- Marine cercariae (Trematoda) – released by infected snails, penetrate skin of swimmers, produce “swimmer’s itch”.
These organisms employ mechanical suction, specialized mouthparts, or clawed legs to maintain contact. Feeding often involves anticoagulant or anesthetic secretions, facilitating prolonged attachment. Clinical manifestations range from localized erythema and itching to secondary bacterial infection and systemic disease transmission. Prompt identification and removal, combined with appropriate antimicrobial or antiparasitic therapy, reduce complications.