Powassan virus (POWV), discovered in Powassan, Ontario, has appeared in America mostly in the Great Lakes and Northeast regions. The CDC reports only 50 cases in the past decade, but it is important to note that these are only reported cases, so there is almost certainly a significant, yet unknown number of other cases that […]
Heartland virus (HRTV) is one of an increasing list of new tick-borne viruses. HRTV is of the genus Phlebovirus, and was discovered in northwestern Missouri in 2009. Mosquitoes and sand flies can also transmit Phleboviruses, but, at this time, HRTV appears to be specific to the Lone Star Tick. Symptoms of HRTV include weakness, fever, […]
Colorado Tick Fever (CTF) is a tick-borne virus of the genus Coltivirus. CTF is also known as Mountain tick fever, American tick fever, and American Mountain tick fever and was first isolated in human blood in 1944. The virus is most prevalent in March through September, with June seeming to be the month of highest […]
Bourbon virus (BOUV) is one of an increasing list of new tick-borne viruses. BOUV is named after a man who died of the Thogotovirus in Bourbon County, Kansas in 2014. BOUV was first identified in Bourbon County, but doctors and researchers guess that this was likely not the first case, and is probably the cause […]
Tularemia is caused by the Gram-negative intracellular bacterium Francisella tularensis. This disease infects both humans and animals, but is particularly devastating to rabbits, hares, and rodents. It is spread via ticks, deer flies, contact with infected animals, ingestion of contaminated water, and inhalation of infectious droplets. Tularemia is naturally occurring, but its ease of transmission […]
Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is a bacterial infection transmitted by tick bite. The tick must be infected with the Borrelia spirochete to pass on the illness. Episodes of fever, or febrile periods, last approximately three days with seven days of afebrile periods in between. The main symptom of TBRF is recurrent episodes of fever. However, […]
Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI) is carried by the lone star tick and was not recognized as separate from Lyme disease until the 1990s. However, doctors have been recording patients with this ‘Lyme-like’ disease since the 1980s. STARI is predominately found in the South Central and Southeastern United States. It was discovered by a doctor […]
364D Rickettsiosis is a species of Rickettsia bacteria. This bacterium is found in the Dermancentor occidentalis tick, which is more commonly known as the Pacific Coast tick. Ticks carrying 364D Rickettsiosis are most commonly found in northern California and elsewhere on the Pacific Coast. The infection is spread to humans via bite of the infected […]
Rickettsia rickettsii is the causative agent of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF). The bacteria are Gram-negative, rod shaped intracellular parasites that infect endothelial cells. The pathogen is most commonly spread by the American dog tick, brown dog tick, Rocky Mountain wood tick, and the Lyme disease transmitting Ixodes tick. Symptoms include fever, rash, headache, nausea, […]
Q fever is a serious illness caused by the Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacteria Coxiella burnetii. It resides in cattle, sheep, and goats, and is transmitted through the urine, feces, milk, and amniotic fluid of infected animals. Coxiella burnetii is a resilient organism that is resistant to heat, drying, and common disinfectants. Humans become ill through […]
