In the United States, there are about 90 species of ticks. However, not all of these ticks are known carriers of diseases in humans. If you can correctly identify the ticks that bit you, you can watch for the symptoms of the diseases they carry. When you remove the tick, but it in a cotton ball with alcohol on it and put it in a zipper bag. Take this into your doctor, because it can help with the diagnosis.
The Blacklegged Tick According to the article “3 Ticks in Virginia and the Diseases They Cause” the female blacklegged tick has black legs with a reddish body and black head and legs. The adult male is brown with black legs. The blacklegged tick can transmit anaplasmosis, babesiosis borrelia miyamotoi, Powassan disease and Lyme disease. The blacklegged tick carries the most diseases of any tick in the United States. While Lyme disease may be the most widely known, the other diseases can be just as serious if not treated. Lone Star Tick You can recognize the lone star tick by the white spot in the center of its back. The lone star tick is a carrier of heartland virus, ehrlichiosis and tularemia. It can also carry STARI which is southern tick-associated rash illness. People may also develop an allergy to meat after a bite from a lone star tick. American Dog Tick The American dog tick is brown with a pattern on its back. The American dog tick carries Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which is the most prevalent in the southeastern part of the United States. This disease is identified by the distinct spotted rash on your ankles and feet. Pacific Coast Tick The Pacific coast tick has a speckled back with a pattern on them. They are more likely to bite in April and May. They spread Pacific Coast fever also known as 364D rickettsiosis. This is a relatively new disease. Many ticks will feed for several days. If you can find the tick within the first 24 hours, you often reduce the risk of contracting the disease. It is important to regularly check for ticks, especially if you have been in a heavily wooded area or another place that is prone to ticks. Dressing in long pants and sleeves and tucking in your shirt, and your pants to your socks can also reduce the chances of having a tick attach to you.
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April 2018
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