A compound light microscope can be used to examine the pathologic microorganism that can be transmitted through ticks. A compound light microscope is an optical microscope that uses lens and light to magnify a specimen that is being viewed. A compound light microscope could have one or two eyepieces. A compound light microscope with one eyepiece is called a monocular compound light microscope while those with two eyepieces are called binocular compound light microscope. Ticks are tiny parasitic animals that feed on the blood of other animals. They are also called ectoparasites. Ticks can be viewd under a microscope such as a stereomicroscope.

As mentioned in the original article, ticks are mostly responsible for many human diseases in United States. Tick-borne diseases, also called Zoonotic diseases, and are transmitted to humans, animals like birds, deer and dogs, by feeding on the blood of an infected host, ingesting it before molting of moving to the next life cycle. Later on during its life, they tansmit the infection to humans, dogs, deer, mouse and other animals. The blood of an infected living thing could be studied with the use of either a monocular compound light microscope or a binocular compound light microscope.

Tick-borne diseases, like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Ehrlichiosis, tularemia, Q-fever, lyme or a lyme-like disease and the Southern tick-associated rash illness are on the rise in Missouri. Not all ticks however are infected, but Missouri Department of Health has conducted informative seminars and has issued precautionary measures to prevent anyone from being bitten by ticks. A study should be made in identifying infected ticks with the use of a compound light microscope.

For example, one tried and true preventive measure is to walk in the center of trails because ticks perch itself on the stems of grass, low brush and tall grass, waiting to stick on a host who happen to brush against the vegetation.

The carbon dioxide exhaled in breathing, the heat and movement of one’s body are the stimuli that ticks can detect on an approaching prey. You can also an insect repellent containing DEET on your skin because it interferes with the ability of ticks to detect you. Other is permethrin. When used on a clothing, it kills launderings. Using light-colored clothing can help you detect ticks easier, and taping your socks to your pants legs can prevent the ticks from sticking to your legs. During a bite tocks should be removed promptly to lessen the risk of infection preferably with a tweezer or a commercial remover. But it should be done correctly and must be cleansed thoroughly with any disinfectant.

Symptoms of disease vary with individuals and the infecting agent. Generally, the signs are sudden high fever, severe headache, muscle or joint aches, nausea of diarrhea. A rash or pus-filled wound that appears after a bite is another sign. Tick-borne cases, as mentioned in the original text, should be reported immediately to the Missouri Department of Health in order for them to promptly monitor and track the occurrences of these diseases. More on this topic