Tick-Borne Diseases
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is an infectious inflammatory illness caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium. Common symptoms include headaches, fever, chills, joint and muscle pain, fatigue, and a unique expanding rash called erythema migrans. The presentation of symptoms can vary widely, with than 50% of cases in Maine displaying typical bullseye rash. If untreated, Lyme disease may result in severe such as arthritis, facial palsies, meningitis, and carditis. While it can be effectively treated oral antibiotics, approximately 10 to 20% of patients may experience lingering, non-specific symptoms, a condition referred to as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), unknown causes. Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the United States, with around 30,000 new cases reported annually. The first documented case in Maine was in 1986, and the number of cases has steadily increased in the state since then.
Anaplasmosis
Anaplasmosis is an illness caused by the bacteria Anaplasma phagophilum. Although it is reported less frequently than Lyme disease, the number of cases has risen over the last twenty years, particularly in Maine where reports nearly doubled each year from 2012 to 2017. The disease is transmitted through the bite of an infected deer tickIxodes scapularis). Symptoms of anaplasmosis may include: - Fever and chills - Severe headaches - Body aches - Fatigue - Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite Cases can vary from mild to severe, with extreme symptoms such as encephalitis and meningitis occurring, though severe cases are relatively uncommon.
Powassan
Powassan encephalitis is a neuro-invasive disease first identified in Powassan, Ontario, in 1958. While subsequent cases have been reported in the United States, the overall incidence remains low, with Maine documenting its first cases in 2000 and annual occurrences staying in the single digits. This disease is caused by two strains of the same flavivirus: the Powassan virus, primarily transmitted by the woodchuck tick (Ixodes cookei) and, to a lesser extent, the squirrel tick (Ixodes marxi); and the newly identified deer tick virus, which is spread by the deer tick (Ixodes scapularis). Symptoms of Powassan encephalitis may include: - Fever - Headache - Vomiting - Weakness -confusion - Loss of coordination - Slurred speech - Seizures
Alpha-Gal
Alpha-gal allergy is a potentially serious food allergy believed to be triggered by the bite of a lone star tick. Although tick is not commonly found in Maine, instances of alpha-gal allergy have still been reported. Alpha-gal (galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose) is a sugar molecule present in red meat that can enter the human body through tick bites. In some individuals, this can lead to an immune response that results in delayed allergic reactions when consuming red meat, with symptoms typically appearing three to six hours later, unlike most food allergies that react within minutes. Symptoms of alpha-gal allergy may include: - Hives and/or intense itching - Swelling of the lips, face, throat, or other body areas - Difficulty breathing - Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain - Sneezing - Headaches - Anaphylaxis
Babesiosis
Babesiosis is a disease caused by the protozoan parasite Babesia microti, which infects red blood cells and may lead to hemol anemia in those affected. In the United States case numbers have fluctuated, generally between 900 and 1,800 annually. In Maine, the incidence has steadily increased over the past decade, reaching a peak 117 reported cases in 2017. Like Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, babesiosis is transmitted through bites from infected deer ticks (odes scapularis). Symptoms of babesiosis may include: - Fever - Chills - Swe - Headache - Body aches - Nausea and/or loss of appetite - Fatigue - Dark urine and jaundice (associated with anemia)
Borrelia
Hard Tick Relapsing Fever, or Borrelia miyamotoi Disease, is caused by the spirochetal bacteria Borrelia miyamotoi, related to other tick-borne pathogens. First identified in Japan in 1995, it has been found in deer ticks in the eastern U.S. since 2011. Cases in Maine have been reported since 2016, remaining in single digits. Unlike other tick-borne diseases, Borrelia miyamotoi can be passed from mother to offspring through, with symptoms including fever, chills, fatigue, severe headaches, and muscle or joint pain.
