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| ARTICLES |
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| Year : 1977 | Volume
: 25
| Issue : 1 | Page : 41-42 |
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Rhipicephalus on the lid margin
TP Ittyerah, S Tony Fernandez
L. F Hospital, Angamally, India
Correspondence Address:
T P Ittyerah
L. F Hospital, Angamally
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
PMID: 612593 
How to cite this article:
Ittyerah T P, Fernandez S T. Rhipicephalus on the lid margin. Indian J Ophthalmol 1977;25:41-2 |
Infestation of the eye lid with blood sucking ticks of domestic animals is not very common. With certain species of ticks little reaction may occur whereas certain other groups produce so much reaction that the tick itself might be hidden in the folds of skin [2],[3],[4] . Rhipicephalus species ticks are commonly seen on domestic animals like dogs and cows[1]. The present case is reported because of the peculiar presentation of the unsuspected invader in the eye lid.
| Case Report | |  |
A 22 year old man engaged in building construction attended the ophthalmic out-patient clinic for pain and blood stained discharge from right eye since four days.
On examination a small round bluish grey swelling was noticed at the lower lid margin of the right eye near the punctum. It was having a rhythmic movement simultating pulsation. There were few blood clots near the swelling. The patient had severe pain. On a close examination under the slit lamp the small apens dages were visible and we could make out clearly that it was a live blood sucking tick. On detailed questioning the patient told us that he used to sleep near a cow shed in the night. The insect was removed after applying a drop of oil and the patient had complete relief of symptoms.
The insect was identified as a blood sucking tick belonging to Rhipicephalus species.
| Discussion | | |
Rhipicephalus species belongs to the family of Ixodidoe in the order Arachnida. They are known to invade a spectrum of hosts and spread diseases from one animal to other. Occasionally they spread diseases to men. African relapsing fever, tularaemia and Rocky mountain spotted fever are few of the diseases transmitted to man by ticks of different species [2] .
The appearance of the insect in the eye lid in this case was very much similar to a small bleeding heamangioma on naked eye examination.
| Summary | | |
A case of live blood sucking tick (Rhipicephalus species) on the lower lid presented and a possible differential diagnosis suggested.
| Acknowledgement | | |
We are grateful to Dr. C.K. Eapen, M.D., Medical Superintendent, Little Flower Hospital, Angamally for permitting us to use the hospital records.
| References | | |
| 1. | Caroline, T., 1964, Encyclopaedia Britanica, 22, 192, William Berton, Chicago.  |
| 2. | Duke Elder, S., 1974; Syst. of Ophthal., Vol. Xlll, P. 202, Henry Kimpton, London. |
| 3. | Kirxan, 1935: Brit. Jour. Ophthal., 19, 659. Quoted by Duke Elder S., 1974 Sys. of Ophthal. Vol. XIII, P. 202, Henry Kimpton, London. |
| 4. | Misar, 1959, Wien, Klin, Wschr., 71, 712. Quoted by Duke Elder S., 1974, Syst. of Ophthal. Vol. XII I, P. 202, Henry Kimpton, London. |
[Figure - 1], [Figure - 2]
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