Tick Borne Diseases are the medical conditions, which occur as a result of transmission of pathogens through the bite of a tick. Ticks can be infected with bacteria, parasites, or viruses. Tick-borne pathogens are transmitted to human beings via the bite of infected ticks.
Common Tick Borne Diseases
Amongst the many Tick Borne Diseases, Lyme disease is the commonest tick-borne disease reported in the United States of America.
Other common Tick Borne Diseases seen in USA are:
Anaplasmosis
Ixodes scapularis or blacklegged tick is the primary tick which transmits this tick borne disease, Anaplasmosis, to human beings. Anaplasmosis is commonly seen in the upper mid-western and northeastern America; and the Ixodes pacificus, which is the western blacklegged tick, is commonly seen along the Pacific coast.
Babesiosis
Babesia microti is the parasite which is responsible for causing majority of the cases of babesiosis in America. The blacklegged tick transmits this Tick Borne Disease to humans. Babesia microti is a microscopic parasite which infects the red blood cells.
Borrelia Miyamotoi Infection
This tick borne disease is transmitted through the bite of Ixodes scapularis, commonly known as blacklegged tick and has a range which resembles the Lyme disease.
Borrelia Mayonii Infection
This Tick Borne Disease is thought to cause illness in the upper mid-western US and is also transmitted by the bite of blacklegged ticks. Borrelia mayonii is a new species, and other than B. burgdorferi, is the only species known to cause Lyme disease in North US.
Bourbon Virus Infection
This Tick Borne Disease has been seen only in a limited number of patients in the southern and Midwest United States. According to studies, Lone Star ticks are thought to be responsible for transmitting the virus. As of now, it is not known if this virus is present in other parts of America.
Colorado Tick Fever
This tick borne disease is transmitted through Dermacentor andersoni or Rocky Mountain wood tick which is seen in the Rocky Mountain States at the heights of 4,000 to 10,500 feet.
Ehrlichiosis
Lone star tick is responsible for transmitting this tick borne disease to humans. This is mainly found in the eastern and south-central America.
Heartland Virus Infection
This Tick Borne Disease has been seen in about eight patients till now and it is thought that Lone Star ticks are responsible for transmitting the virus.
Lyme Disease
The blacklegged tick is responsible for transmitting this Tick Borne Disease in the upper mid-western U.S. and northeastern U.S. The western blacklegged tick is responsible for transmission of Lyme Disease along the Pacific coast.
Powassan Disease
The blacklegged tick and groundhog tick transmits this Tick Borne Disease. Reports of this disease have primarily been from the Great Lakes region and the northeastern states.
Rickettsia Parkeri Rickettsiosis
The Gulf Coast tick transmits this tick borne disease to humans.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF)
The Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni), the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), and the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) and other species of tick are responsible for transmitting this Tick Borne Disease in the South and Central America.
STARI (Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness)
The lone star tick is responsible for transmitting this Tick Borne Disease, STARI, to humans. This tick is commonly found in the eastern and southeastern U.S.
Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF)
The bite of infected soft ticks transmits this tick borne disease, TBRF, to humans. Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever has been reported in about 15 states which are: Arizona, Colorado, California, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Wyoming and Washington. Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever is associated with sleeping in vacation homes and rustic cabins.
Tularemia
The dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) and the wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni) and the lone star tick transmit Tularemia to humans. This tick borne disease is seen throughout America.
364D Rickettsiosis
This is a newly discovered tick borne disease which is found in California and gets transmitted to humans through the bite of Dermacentor occidentalis or the Pacific Coast tick.
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