What do ticks cause? - briefly
Ticks are vectors for several illnesses, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, and tick‑borne encephalitis. Their bites can produce fever, rash, joint pain, and neurological symptoms.
What do ticks cause? - in detail
Ticks are vectors of a wide range of pathogens that affect humans and animals. Their bites can transmit bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, leading to acute illnesses, chronic conditions, and, in rare cases, fatal outcomes.
Bacterial infections most commonly associated with tick exposure include:
- Lyme disease – caused by Borrelia burgdorferi; symptoms progress from localized skin rash to joint inflammation, neurological deficits, and cardiac involvement if untreated.
- Anaplasmosis – caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum; presents with fever, headache, muscle pain, and may evolve into severe respiratory distress or organ failure.
- Ehrlichiosis – caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis; produces fever, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and can lead to hepatitis or encephalitis.
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever – caused by Rickettsia rickettsii; characterized by high fever, rash, and potential vascular damage resulting in multi‑organ failure.
- Tularemia – caused by Francisella tularensis; manifests as ulceroglandular lesions, pneumonia, or systemic infection with high mortality if untreated.
Viral agents transmitted by ticks include:
- Powassan virus – neuroinvasive flavivirus; can cause encephalitis or meningitis with rapid onset of neurological deficits.
- Heartland virus – phlebovirus; leads to fever, fatigue, and leukopenia, occasionally progressing to severe illness.
- SFTS (Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome) virus – causes high fever, low platelet count, and hemorrhagic complications.
Protozoan diseases transmitted by ticks are limited but notable:
- Babesiosis – caused by Babesia microti; induces hemolytic anemia, fever, and can be life‑threatening in immunocompromised patients.
Beyond infectious diseases, tick bites may provoke:
- Local allergic reactions – erythema, swelling, and pruritus at the bite site.
- Tick‑borne paralysis – neurotoxic protein secreted by certain species; results in ascending muscle weakness and respiratory failure if the tick remains attached.
Prompt removal of the arthropod reduces the risk of pathogen transmission. Early diagnosis, supported by serologic testing or polymerase chain reaction assays, enables targeted antimicrobial or antiviral therapy, improving prognosis. Continuous surveillance of tick populations and public education on preventive measures remain essential to mitigate the health impact of these ectoparasites.