tick expectations?

Hi Rohan

I have not looked up the Jigger to see if it is the same or different. Your home grown cure is the same that I would do in surgery, and a hell of a lot less money. My only issue is the acacia thorn. A really good way to get a staph infection. Came within 12 hours of having my left leg and a kidney taken out last year due to a stab wound from a thorn, could have also been the animal blood.

The leg still looks like I was nailed by a puff adder. And not trying to hijack a thread but I don't like snakes, got nailed in my bed by a Moz cobra about 5 years ago.

Originally Posted by Rohan

John,

I have experienced a certain type of sand flea and the whiteheads on numerous occasions over the years in Mozambique while spearfishing and living in a very rustic 'sandy area' tented camp in the Mashongolo elephant nature reserve. The sand flea that lays the eggs and causes such a whitehead is called the Jigger flea. You can get bites that itch but only some that turn to a whitehead..this whitehead and the resulting itch can be remedied by carefully slicing the skin with a razor and removing the egg sac with a dry acacia thorn and being careful not to pop it in the wound, then throw Hydrogen Peroxide in the wound, then a dab of Mercurocrome, works every time. Only happens in summer months though. Always on the toes or between toes, on ankles and heels..terrible itchy feeling and once you find out that it is actually eggs you are ready to perform surgery! I'm sure you are aware of this flea I just meant to share my experience on this.

Have hunted Zim during those months on multiple occasions. Ticks are a problem, especially when you are in proximity to a recently downed game animal. My suggestion is to talk to your doctor about an Rx for doxycyclene. It is an antibiotic that works well as a malaria prophylaxis and is also effective against tick borne diseases and infections. I take one per day and have never had any side effects. YMMV.

You should talk to your practioner about this. I would never issue a dosage at this. Either go for the kill or pick another drug. Normally is 100mg, twice/day, 10 days. I work infectious diseases so may be sensitive.

Originally Posted by .416 Rigby

Have hunted Zim during those months on multiple occasions. Ticks are a problem, especially when you are in proximity to a recently downed game animal. My suggestion is to talk to your doctor about an Rx for doxycyclene. It is an antibiotic that works well as a malaria prophylaxis and is also effective against tick borne diseases and infections. I take one per day and have never had any side effects. YMMV.

the problem with taking antibiotics as a cover for anything when you go travelling, or just being given them by a doctor for an ailment to make you feel that he has done something for you, is that all the nasty little things that you should use them for are becoming totally resistant to a serious amount of the antibiotics available to us. the pharmaceutical companies are in a race to develope new antibiotics but they are having a very hard time doing this. so remember resistance due to use when not needed is going to cause big problems .

Amen

Gents,
Just to add to the thread. If you get bitten by a tick, or have a bite mark, which you pressume to be a tick, keep an eye on it for the next couple of days. If the tick that bit you carried the virus that causes tick-bite fever, the bite area will turn blackish in colour. (...and yes, in South Africa we spell color with a "u" as in colour)

Dog shampoo works like a charm.

Originally Posted by KMG Hunting Safaris

Gents,
Just to add to the thread. If you get bitten by a tick, or have a bite mark, which you pressume to be a tick, keep an eye on it for the next couple of days. If the tick that bit you carried the virus that causes tick-bite fever, the bite area will turn blackish in colour. (...and yes, in South Africa we spell color with a "u" as in colour)

Dog shampoo works like a charm.

Yes, we spell in real English still
I have bought Bushman's Plus here in South Africa it is made in Austarlia and work like a chanrm for ticks and any other bugs has 80% DEET having been using it since 2008. And not once had tick bite fever and that is with spending 200 days in the bush per year.

Then Dog Shampoo works yes.

Originally Posted by Frederik

Yes, we spell in real English still

Yes Frederik ...and we drive on the correct side of the road.

The ticks climb up the grass stalks and wait for you! They are sensitive to the vibrations in the ground as you walk along! Pepper ticks won't give you tick fever! The bigger brown ticks give you tick fever when you pull off the tick and leave the head behind. They bury their heads in your skin to suck!
They will infest areas where you have soft skin with good blood supply...around your groin, back of knees, waist line etc. we always do a tick inspection after the days hunt in the shower. If you are in a tick area, wipe your legs etc down with some Diesel on a rag, wait 5 minutes then shower. This gets them to let go!

Ole Bally,
I agree with a lot of your points, but not all. Wiping your legs with diesel will work, but showering will not get rid of that diesel smell. All that will happen is that you will end up smelling like a mechanic. There are a couple of sprays around that smell like citrus that does the same job.
The old wives tale of Tick-bite fever being caused by removing the tick and the head breaking off is not true. Tick bite fever is caused by any tick that carries the virus. They do not all carry the virus, only certain individuals. If you are unlucky to get bitten by a tick that carries the virus, you will be infected, which will cause you to get tick-bite fever.

You are very correct that ticks go for the soft skin with good blood supply like the groin area. Especially if you are a man. Seems that most men have great blood supply in that region. (...and brains) Well, that's what my wife says in anyways.

Read this thread with interest on Sat. I got tick bite fever last May after my trip to the East Cape. Watching the hunting shows on Sunday. One of the companies is advertising a line of clothes impregnated with something that the ticks don't like. They show one on a pair of trousers squirming and he just wants out of there. Advertised as lasting for 70 cycles through the washing machine. Looks like they are finally bringing some of the anti tick technology to the hunting clothing industry. I suspect that more will be available in the next couple of years. Bruce

TICKS - NOOOOOO!!!!! Say it ain't so. I HATE ticks and am allergic to their bite. Well, I am allergic to the ones here in Wisconsin, hopefully not in SA.

How bad are the ticks in late August in the Limpopo region??

I must know about this so I can take all precautions to keep these little b*#S)%@ off of me.

Not trying to be smart but your education on the little buggers is different than mine. Not that mine is right but I am currently lecturing at Med School in infectious diseases. Tick bite fever is a bacterial infection from a biting, non burrowing tick, pepper ticks and deer ticks included.

Originally Posted by Ole Bally

The ticks climb up the grass stalks and wait for you! They are sensitive to the vibrations in the ground as you walk along! Pepper ticks won't give you tick fever! The bigger brown ticks give you tick fever when you pull off the tick and leave the head behind. They bury their heads in your skin to suck!
They will infest areas where you have soft skin with good blood supply...around your groin, back of knees, waist line etc. we always do a tick inspection after the days hunt in the shower. If you are in a tick area, wipe your legs etc down with some Diesel on a rag, wait 5 minutes then shower. This gets them to let go!

As mentioned earlier the best treated gear provided by Uncle Sam to the Marines didn't stop them for me. I do hope that something comes up as the little guys will kick my friends out of the way to get to me.

Originally Posted by gillettehunter

Read this thread with interest on Sat. I got tick bite fever last May after my trip to the East Cape. Watching the hunting shows on Sunday. One of the companies is advertising a line of clothes impregnated with something that the ticks don't like. They show one on a pair of trousers squirming and he just wants out of there. Advertised as lasting for 70 cycles through the washing machine. Looks like they are finally bringing some of the anti tick technology to the hunting clothing industry. I suspect that more will be available in the next couple of years. Bruce

I used an over the counter bug cream that was recommended and merely rubbed it on my hands and then spread it over the lower legs. Pants , gaiters, socks.
It seemed to work. Watkins I think. Got it from the local MEC.


I stopped doing it one day and we went through a low lying area around some water and came out covered in pepper ticks. Literally moving with them.
The PH saw this and when we got back to the truck pulled out a spray bottle and the tracker and we all got a decontamination spraying.
It was some kind of citrus smelling spray. No idea about the name but IT WORKED. Everything dropped off instantaneously.

That bug cream went back on to the cloths the next day.

I tested the theory with one tick I found and he did not bite on the covered area and did on an on covered area (the bottom of my foot).


No matter where I was across the continent I found ticks.
Some places more than others but they are everywhere.

Originally Posted by Packsy

TICKS - NOOOOOO!!!!! Say it ain't so. I HATE ticks and am allergic to their bite. Well, I am allergic to the ones here in Wisconsin, hopefully not in SA.

How bad are the ticks in late August in the Limpopo region??

I must know about this so I can take all precautions to keep these little b*#S)%@ off of me.

A friend from Wisconsin hunted in the Limpopo province, 2 years ago in May and there whole party got sick form tick bites. I have seen a fair amount of ticks. It's part of hunting and really has never bothered me. I just brushed them off. But I think tight clothing helps. Don't give them anything to hang onto.

I must say I have very sensitive skin and the second I felt something, I would flick them off. They tend to be in the same places you find them in Wisconsin the long grass and brush.

But most areas in Africa have ticks....it's part of being in the wild.

Originally Posted by BRICKBURN

I used an over the counter bug cream that was recommended and merely rubbed it on my hands and then spread it over the lower legs. Pants , gaiters, socks.
It seemed to work. Watkins I think.

Good tip BRICKBURN. I found the Watkins product on the web at :Watkins Official Home Business Opportunity Web Site | Insect Repellent Lotion, Travel Size

Packsy really gets sick (allergic reaction) when bit by any type of tic. We will definitely get some Watkins.

Do you find the tic activity less prevalent in the winter month in SA?

Gents,
I think this thing is really being blown out of proportion. Its not as bad as it sounds. Unless you are crawling through grass and through a pepper tick nest, you might get one or two on you the entire trip. The important wrod being MIGHT.

If you can find a little bit of spray, then you will be fine.

Marius is right. I've spent quite a few days in the bush in Africa and haven't had a problem with ticks. Simple precautions will keep them at bay unless your laying on the ground alot. Backwoods Off or any other repellant with a high enough concentration of DEET will work. Spray your shoes, gaitors and legs up to your knees and you shouldn't have a problem. I hunt alot in the Hill country in Texas. Spring turkey season is horrible for ticks and, even worse, chiggers. The previous precautions work pretty good. If I know I am going to be sitting on the ground in the bushes calling, I'll spray everything.

Buff-Buster
Spray your shoes, gaitors and legs up to your knees and you shouldn't have a problem. The previous precautions work pretty good. If I know I am going to be sitting on the ground in the bushes calling, I'll spray everything.

OK then here is a question. Can aerosol spray be transported on airplanes?