Ticks & Tick Borne Disease
Tick species have become a growing concern in the United States. Tick species and their associated diseases vary by location and region. It is important to be aware of ticks and the signs of the diseases they carry.
Information on ticks and tickborne disease is continually found and published by the Center for Disease Control, in order to stay up to date with the most recent information visit their website; The Center for Disease Control Tick Home Page.
For questions about tick-borne diseases please contact the Regional Tick-Borne Disease Resource Center | Stony Brook Southampton Hospital Hampton Bays Tick Clinic Helpline at (631) 726-TICK (8425)
Signs & Symptoms of Tickborne Disease
There are a number of known tick borne diseases common in the North East and many have the same signs and symptoms with varying extremeness. There is no single identifying symptom, all the diseases have similar flue like symptoms. The only exception is Powassan, which causes the brain to swell. The most common symptoms of tick related illness are:
- Fever/chills: all tickborne diseases cause fevers at varying degrees and times of onset
- Aches and Pains: symptoms include fatigue, headaches, muscle aches. With Lyme disease, people have also experienced joint pain.
- Rash: different diseases can result in distinctive rashes, for example the Lyme disease rash is recognized by the ‘bullseye’ rash. It is often the first sign of infection, but occurs in only 70-80% of infected persons.
Common Tickborne Diseases in the Northeast
Lyme Disease: Bacteria
Lyme is a bacterial infection that replicates in the blood stream nerves, and can be treated by antibiotics. Sometimes recognized for the bullseye rash it creates. It presents differently in most people. Transmission generally occurs within 24 to 48 hours of being bitten.
Anaplasmosis: Bacteria
Signs and symptoms of anaplasmosis typically begin within 1–2 weeks after the bite of an infected tick. Early treatment with the antibiotic doxycycline can prevent severe illness or death.
Babesiosis: Parasite
Caused by microscopic parasites that infect red blood cells and are spread by certain ticks, typically in the nymph stage. Some people develop flu-like symptoms and some have none. Treatment is available, but is generally not necessary in people without symptoms.
Ehrlichiosis: Bacteria
Ehrlichiosis is the general name used to describe diseases caused by the bacteria Ehrlichia chaffeensis, E. ewingii, or E. muris eauclairensis in the United States. The majority of reported cases are due to infection with E. chaffeensis.
Powassan: Virus
Many infected do not develop any symptoms. It takes 1 week to 1 month for symptoms to develop after being bit. Symptoms can include fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, loss of coordination, speech difficulties, and seizures. Approximately half of survivors have permanent neurological symptoms, such as recurrent headaches, muscle wasting and memory problems. There is death in 1 of 5 reported cases.
Ticks at the Beach!
Did you know ticks are at the Beach. Yes, Mark & Rory talk to Tamson Yeh Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County's Pest Management specialist about this topic.
Last updated February 1, 2024
Tick Identification
The Horticulture Diagnostic lab can identify ticks only. We cannot test the tick for disease.
Why identify the tick? Different ticks may vector for different diseases. Some lifecycle stages of ticks do not vector for any disease at all.
For an $11.00 lab fee we can tell you:
- The species of tick
- The life stage
- If the tick had been feeding or not
- The condition of the hypostome (the part of the tick that is inserted into the skin, which if broken off, may still be in the skin and could potentially cause localized infection)
- Provide you with information regarding what sort of diseases your particular tick could carry, symptoms of the various diseases, and general time frame as to when symptoms would occur following a tick bite.
Patients and physicians may use this information to determine a course of action.
CCE In the News
Ticks in the Northeast
Black Legged Tick or Deer Tick
Known Diseases: Lyme, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Powassan, and Borrelia miyamotoi
The Black Legged Tick has no light spots on its body. It is commonly found across the Northeast with an increasing population. This tick is a vector for a number of tick borne diseases including Lyme, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and powassan.
Dog Tick
Known Diseases: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Tularemia (both rare)
The Dog Tick is mostly found questing in tall grasses. There are only a couple rare known diseases associated with the Male Dog Tick such as Rocky Mountain Fever.
Lone Star Tick
Known Diseases: Ehrlichiosis and Tularemia
The Lone Start tick has been identified up mid Hudson and on Long Island in high densities, it is moving across New York State. They do best in dry habitats and are less cold tolerant, but they are more dry weather tolerant. Allergic reactions associated with consumption of red (mammalian) meat have been reported among people bitten by Lone Star Ticks.
