Tick paralysis without muscle weakness.

Abstract

TICK PARALYSIS, a disease of man and animals, has been recognized as a clinical entity since beginning of 19th century. Captain William Hovell, while traveling through Australia, wrote in 1824 of the small insect called tick, which buries itself in flesh, and would in end destroy either man or beast if not removed in time. 1 Todd 2 reported first cases of tick paralysis in man in North America. As of 1965, approximately 350 cases had been reported in United States and Canada with a mortality of about 12% 3 The disease is seen worldwide and is endemic in southeastern and northwestern regions of United States and in western Canada. 4 Certain ticks of species Dermacentor andersoni and D variabilis elaborate a toxic substance which can give rise to an acute ascending flaccid paralysis that can end