Dermacentor

(dĕr″mă-sĕnt′or)

A genus of ticks belonging to the order Acarina, family Ixodidae.

Dermacentor andersoni

An important North American species that is parasitic on humans or other mammals during some part of its life cycle. It may cause tick paralysis and is a vector of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, scrub typhus, tularemia, brucellosis, Q fever, and several forms of viral encephalomyelitis.
SYN: SEE: wood tick

Dermacentor variabilis

A species similar to D. andersoni, and the main vector for Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the central and eastern U.S. It is parasitic to dogs, horses, cattle, rabbits, and humans.