Strange lumps under the skin

[Alexj]

I was skinning a young roe buck this afternoon and came across these lumps under the skin. each lump coincided with a tick in the fur.

Given that most deer have a few ticks, I'm surprised I haven't seen this before.

Other elements of the carcass and gralloch seemed normal.

Is this just infection from the tick bites?

Thanks for any feedback.

Alex

 

[tattie]

Looks a bit like Warbles.

 

[StephenToast]

They are tick bites.

 

[Alexj]

They are tick bites.

Thanks Stephen,
That's what I assumed, given the ticks in the fur behind the lumps.
I have not spotted that skin reaction before, I've been lucky or not very observant, both options are possible.
It makes you realise what nasty things ticks are!

A

 

[NickJ]

I've seen the odd tick bite on the inside of the skin like that (concluded, like you by corresponding tick on the outside) but never any where near as many as that, I can only think that the individual deer was particularly susceptible to tick bites in the same way as different people react to mosquito bites in very different ways

 

[SCB]

I was skinning a young roe buck this afternoon and came across these lumps under the skin. each lump coincided with a tick in the fur.

Given that most deer have a few ticks, I'm surprised I haven't seen this before.

Other elements of the carcass and gralloch seemed normal.

Is this just infection from the tick bites?

Thanks for any feedback.

Alex

View attachment 361402View attachment 361403

Could it be an indication the tick is passing on Lyme?? Or some other nasty ie be extra careful of getting bitten
SCB

 

[Buchan]

Could it be an indication the tick is passing on Lyme?? Or some other nasty ie be extra careful of getting bitten
SCB

No. although...most tick-borne diseases are spread when a tick bites an animal with the bacteria or virus in its blood, but there can be spread due to co-feeding. this is where tow of more ticks feeding in close proximity will spread disease between them - ie from infected tick to uninfected tick, without the animal getting the disease. So if you folk have seen this, but only occasionally in relation to tick bites, it might mean that co-feeding can only occur with a specific reaction.

 

[Alexj]

Could it be an indication the tick is passing on Lyme?? Or some other nasty ie be extra careful of getting bitten
SCB

Quite possibly, that does add to the paranoia.

A

 

[Alexj]

No. although...most tick-borne diseases are spread when a tick bites an animal with the bacteria or virus in its blood, but there can be spread due to co-feeding. this is where tow of more ticks feeding in close proximity will spread disease between them - ie from infected tick to uninfected tick, without the animal getting the disease. So if you folk have seen this, but only occasionally in relation to tick bites, it might mean that co-feeding can only occur with a specific reaction.

Thanks everyone for the info, I hoped I would learn something from this.

Much appreciated
A

 

[StephenToast]

I've seen the odd tick bite on the inside of the skin like that (concluded, like you by corresponding tick on the outside) but never any where near as many as that, I can only think that the individual deer was particularly susceptible to tick bites in the same way as different people react to mosquito bites in very different ways

Pretty average amount of ticks for the deer I shoot around here.