Courtesy of University of Maine, Cooperative Extension: Tick Lab
If you’ve recently been working in the garden or hiking in a Dutchess County park, don’t be surprised if you have to remove a tick or two. Tick populations in the United States are thriving due to increased humidity and warmer weather from climate change, and they’re also spreading north – species once found only in the Southeast are now common in New York state.
This is National Tick Awareness Week, and there’s a lot to be aware of. Ticks are arthropods, little eight-legged creatures in the spider family. From the moment they hatch, throughout a life cycle that can last three years, they must feed on blood to survive.
One of the most common ticks in Dutchess County is the blacklegged or deer tick, which is notorious for transmitting tick-borne diseases. The dog tick and the lone star tick can also be found in New York state but are not associated with diseases.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 50,000 cases of tick-borne illness in the country in 2019, with Lyme disease by far the most common. New York is one of 14 states that account for 95% of all infections. The Mid-Hudson Valley reports 950 confirmed cases a year – although experts believe the actual number may be 10 times greater!
More than 30% of deer ticks in Dutchess County carry Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease. Ticks contract the Lyme bacteria by biting infected rats, then transmit it to humans by feeding on us for at least 36 hours. The classic bull’s-eye rash of Lyme disease develops in between three to 30 days in 75% of victims. Flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills and body aches, are common. If untreated, the infection spreads to other organs and can lead to heart damage, arthritis, meningitis, and neuropathy. Death is extremely rare.
The good news is that tick-borne disease is entirely curable if treated early with a 10- to 14-day course of antibiotics. Your healthcare provider may offer you one dose of the antibiotic doxycycline to prevent Lyme, but only if the deer tick has been feeding less than 72 hours. (If you’re confident your bite was from a lone star or dog tick, and you removed it within 24 hours, you don’t need to contact your provider. Self-monitor for rash or flu-like symptoms as a precaution.)
A small number of patients may experience pain, fatigue and “brain fog” for more than six months after the antibiotics. This autoimmune reaction called Post-Treatment Lyme disease Syndrome has no proven cure, but with time patients usually get better.
About 10% of deer ticks in Dutchess County carry other diseases, including anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis. All three cause symptoms similar to Lyme disease, without the bull’s-eye rash; very rarely, babesiosis can cause fatalities from kidney failure.
Ticks love dead plant matter, bushes and long grass, especially at the edges of woods. Because they can’t fly or jump, ticks wait in the “questing pose” – back legs gripping a surface, front legs up – ready to grab their victim. They detect their prey by breath, body odor, moisture and vibration. Once they’re on your body, they’ll wander for up to two hours to find just the right spot, feed for three days, then drop off.
Ticks feast on blood-rich body parts: in and around ears, inside the navel, on the backs of the knees, in and around hair, under arms, around the waist, and between the legs. Typically dog ticks like heads best, while deer ticks prefer the groin.
If you find a tick feeding on your body – particularly a deer tick – remove it as quickly as possible. Home remedies such as fingernail polish, petroleum jelly, kerosene, lit cigarette butts or hot match heads aren’t the answer. Get clean tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the surface of your skin as possible and pull upward steadily. Clean the bite area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
Take a picture of the removed tick, or preserve it under a piece of clear tape, to share with your medical provider. You should call your doctor if you’re certain you have a deer tick bite, or if you aren’t sure of the tick type. If you’ve been in a tick-infested area and develop flu-like symptoms or a bull’s-eye rash, call even if you can’t find a tick on your body.
Tick bites rarely cause emergencies, but cases of “tick paralysis” – caused by a toxin in tick saliva – can lead to shortness of breath, palpitations and paralysis, and require urgent attention.
The best way to avoid tick-borne illness is to avoid ticks! When hiking, stick to the middle of trails, where the grass is shortest. Control the tick population on your property by mowing your lawn frequently. Create a three-foot-wide barrier of gravel or wood chips between your lawn and the woods to discourage ticks from crossing over. Stack your firewood neatly and keep it dry to discourage rodents that may attract ticks. Keep playground equipment away from yard edges. Remove trash where ticks may hide.
Wear long-sleeved clothing that is light-colored, to help you spot any ticks easily. Consider pretreating your clothes and shoes with tick repellents like permethrin. Spray your skin with an insect repellent containing at least 20% DEET, such as Deep Woods Off!, or a natural repellent like Murphy’s Natural Lemon Eucalyptus Oil Insect Repellent.
Check your gear, clothes and dogs (they can get Lyme, too!) for ticks after outdoor activities. If you tumble dry your clothing for 10 minutes, that will kill any ticks. Showering within two hours after an excursion lowers your risk of bite. Do a full body check with someone helping, or use a mirror.
Know where you might come into contact with ticks, and take steps to protect yourself, your property and your pets! The Dutchess County Tick Task Force is hosting an educational event in Poughkeepsie in July; more local information can be found here.
Mary Jenkins is recently retired after nearly 40 years as a family practice physician in New York state.