Tick Safety
Prevent Tick Bites
Take action to decrease your risk of infection: protect against tick bites, check for ticks, remove ticks as soon as you can, and watch for symptoms.
Common Ticks of Ohio
The three main tick species common in Ohio that are of medical importance are the American dog tick, the blacklegged tick (also known as the deer tick), and the Lone Star tick.
The lone star tick can carry and transmit several diseases, including Ehrlichiosis, Heartland virus disease, Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI), Bourbon virus disease, Tularemia, and is also linked to Rocky Mountain spotted fever. In addition, it can transmit a sugar molecule that can cause a red meat allergy known as alpha-gal syndrome.
The American dog tick carries and can transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Tularemia. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is a serious illness caused by bacteria, while Tularemia is also a bacterial infection that can cause ulcer-glandular infections.
Black-legged ticks, also known as deer ticks, can transmit a variety of diseases, including Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, and Borrelia miyamotoi disease. Other tickborne diseases associated with blacklegged ticks include Ehrlichiosis and Powassan virus.
Alpha-Gal Syndrome
Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic condition that can occur after a tick bite. It’s named for a molecule, galactose-α-1,3-galactose, that’s found in most mammals.
lyme disease
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. It is the most common tick-borne illness in the United States and can cause a range of symptoms, including a characteristic bull’s-eye rash, fever, fatigue, and joint pain. If left untreated, Lyme disease can progress to affect the joints, heart, and nervous system.
rocky mountain spotted fever
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a severe, potentially fatal, tick-borne illness caused by the bacteria Rickettsia rickettsii. It is characterized by fever, headache, and a rash, which often appears a few days after the onset of fever. If left untreated, RMSF can lead to serious complications and even death.
Tick Resources