Tick spotting: using mannequins to evaluate individual efficacy at detecting Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae).

ABSTRACT: Tick checks are a free and accessible personal protection measure used to prevent tick bites and are frequently recommended by public health institutions and vector-borne disease researchers. However, little is known about how successful people are at detecting ticks on themselves or others when using this method. We developed a tool for evaluating factors affecting the efficacy of tick checks using mannequins. In 2022 and 2023, we recruited 207 participants to complete a brief survey and perform a tick check on a mannequin, where dead Ixodes scapularis Say larvae, nymphs, and adults had been glued at various locations. None of the survey results (demographics, knowledge, attitude, and concerns about ticks and tick-borne disease) were associated with likelihood of tick detection. On averag

SUBMITTER: Zembsch T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12754835 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature