Ticks, Lyme Disease, and You

Ticks, and their host animals such as mice and deer, become more active in Spring. This is also when mating generally occurs and this brings host animals closer together which gives ticks the opportunity to move from one host to another. Ticks actually time this increase in host animal activity by monitoring the levels of certain hormones in the blood of their hosts. Therefore as the Spring mating season gets into high gear tick activity will increase as well.

As the owners of dogs that like to explore rodent holes we have to be especially vigilant in the spring. Noses that explore mouse holes can sometimes emerge with a tick! And, these same ticks don't necessarily stay on the dogs but can be deposited into our house as well.

So, the bottom line is that Spring is "tick season", so be prepared.

Ticks feed on the blood of their host animal. Ticks can remained attach to their host for many hours during which their saliva mixes with the host's blood. Tick saliva may contain disease pathogens that can be transmitted to the host in this way. In the US there are about half a dozen significant tick-borne diseases and this number varies by geographical region. The diseases tend to be somewhat tick-specific, in other words a particular disease is transmitted only by certain tick species.

The risks for tick bites are highest when you or your pets venture into habitat that supports high rodent or deer populations.

What about Lyme Disease?

Certain ticks carry a parasite called Borrelia burgdorferi that can be transmitted to us. This parasite causes a very serious disease in humans called Lyme Disease. Key points to remember from the CDC - 

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread to people through the bite of blacklegged ticks.

Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system.

Lyme disease is most common in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and upper-Midwest regions of the United States.

Finally, the most important take home message is this - the chance that the Lyme Disease parasite will be transmitted is directly related to how long the tick feeds on you. If the tick is removed soon after it attaches and begins to feed there is very little likelihood that you'll become infected. Every hour delayed increases the risk that transmission may occur. This is why it is so important to check for ticks when, for example, hiking through tall dry grass where ticks can be abundant. Bottom line - if you find a tick on you remove it as quickly as possible.  See how to remove a tick safely for more information from our 'Bugs site.

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