As drought gets a grip on most of Georgia, it also gets a
death grip on fleas, says a University of Georgia scientist.

“Immature fleas are very sensitive to dehydration,” said
Beverly Sparks, a UGA Extension Service entomologist. “They
can’t
withstand extended periods of high heat and low humidity. When
we
have very dry weather, the immature fleas (living outside) die.
Of course, those fleas that are reproducing inside do quite
well.”

While fleas are a frequent summer annoyance, ticks can be
dangerous. And the dry weather doesn’t seem to deter them. The
two main threats from ticks are Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain
spotted fever.

Ticks Transmit
Diseases

Photo: Scott Bauer, USDA-ARS Adult deer tick (Ixodes scapularis)

“The primary tick that carries Lyme disease is the
black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis), often called the deer
tick,” Sparks said.

The cause of Lyme disease is a bacteria, Borrelia
burgdorferi.

“The initial sign of infection is a ring-like swollen rash at
the site of the bite three to 22 days following the bite of the
infected tick,” she said. “The rash is often accompanied by
flu-like symptoms.”

Early Lyme disease symptoms include fatigue, chills and
fever,
headache, muscle and joint pain and swollen lymph nodes. The
disease can have chronic symptoms weeks and even years later,
including arthritis and nervous system abnormalities.

Spotted Fever More
Acute

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a more acute and immediately
dangerous disease, though the tick bite itself is less notable.

Also caused by a bacteria-like organism, Rickettsia
ricketsii,
it shows up in a sudden onset of moderate to high fever, which
can last for two or three weeks. Other symptoms are severe
headache, fatigue, deep muscle pain, chills and a rash that
usually begins on the legs or arms and can spread quickly to the
rest of the body. The disease can lead to kidney failure and
death.

If you suspect Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever,
Sparks said, see a doctor quickly. Early treatment is important
to complete recovery from either disease.

Remove Ticks
Carefully

Whether you spot a tick on a human or a pet, remove it
carefully.

“Remove imbedded ticks with forceps, or with cloth or paper
wrapped around the tick as near to the point of attachment as
possible,” Sparks said. “Use a steady, firm pull to remove the
tick. And apply a disinfectant to the site of the bite.”

The best way to avoid fleas and ticks is to use a repellant.

“Repellents containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide)
are the most effective,” Sparks said. “The repellent can be
applied to exposed skin and will repel ticks for several hours.”

Permanone, which contains permethrin, can be applied to
clothing and is an effective repellent, too. But don’t apply
Permanone to the skin.

To keep fleas and ticks away from your house, you must be
diligent.

Kill Ticks, Fleas Where They
Are

“Successful flea control programs include treatment of the
pet
and the environments where that animal lives,” Sparks said. “You
must get rid of fleas on the pet, and then treat the areas where
fleas may be breeding.”

Be sure to treat the pet’s sleeping and feeding areas,
whether
indoors or out.

“Make sure that the pesticide you select is labeled for use
indoors when treating the fleas inside,” Sparks said.

In a desperate attempt to control fleas and ticks, many pet
owners shave their pets in summer. “It may make it easier to
find
them,” Sparks said. “But it won’t prevent an infestation.”