Lyme disease is a common concern when considering tick-borne illnesses. As ticks become more prevalent, understanding the specific risks posed by different species is important. This article clarifies the relationship between the Lone Star tick and Lyme disease, detailing what this tick transmits.
Understanding Lyme Disease and the Lone Star Tick
The Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum) does not transmit Lyme disease. Decades of research show no evidence it carries Borrelia burgdorferi or Borrelia mayonii, the bacteria causing Lyme disease. Some studies even suggest its saliva may kill these bacteria.
Lyme disease is mainly transmitted by blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) in the eastern and central United States, and by the western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) on the Pacific coast. Lone Star ticks are found from central Texas and Oklahoma eastward across the southern states and along the Atlantic coast as far north as Maine, often inhabiting woodlands with dense overgrowth and grassy meadows.
While the Lone Star tick does not transmit Lyme disease, its bite can cause Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI). STARI presents with a rash similar to Lyme disease’s “bull’s-eye” rash, but it is a distinct illness not caused by Borrelia burgdorferi.
Diseases Transmitted by the Lone Star Tick
Although the Lone Star tick does not transmit Lyme disease, it is a vector for several other pathogens and can cause unique health conditions.
Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI)
Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI) manifests as an expanding red rash, sometimes with a clear center, appearing within seven days of a bite. This rash may be accompanied by flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, headache, and muscle or joint pains, but it typically has milder symptoms and does not lead to the chronic issues seen in Lyme disease.
Ehrlichiosis
The Lone Star tick also transmits ehrlichiosis, a bacterial infection caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis or Ehrlichia ewingii. Symptoms usually appear 5 to 14 days after a bite and include fever, chills, headache, and muscle aches. While a rash can occur, it is more common in children than adults, appearing in about 30-60% of cases.
Tularemia
Another disease transmitted by the Lone Star tick is tularemia, caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. This illness can present with fever, chills, headache, and malaise, often accompanied by a skin ulcer at the bite site and swollen lymph nodes. The incubation period for tularemia is typically 3 to 5 days.
Viral Diseases
Emerging viral diseases linked to the Lone Star tick include Heartland virus and Bourbon virus. Heartland virus, first identified in 2009, causes flu-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue, decreased appetite, headache, nausea, diarrhea, and muscle or joint pain, with symptoms appearing within two weeks of a bite. Bourbon virus, discovered in 2014, also presents with fever, fatigue, rash, headache, body aches, nausea, and vomiting.
Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS)
Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) is a unique meat allergy associated with the Lone Star tick bite. This allergy develops when the tick transfers a sugar molecule called alpha-gal into a person’s bloodstream, triggering an immune response. Symptoms, which can range from hives and rash to severe stomach pain, nausea, and difficulty breathing, typically appear 3 to 6 hours after consuming red meat or other mammalian products.
Identifying Lone Star Ticks and Preventing Bites
Identifying Lone Star ticks involves recognizing their distinctive features and preferred habitats.
The adult female Lone Star tick is easily identified by a single, silvery-white spot on her back, which gives the tick its common name. Males have a reddish-brown body with faint white streaks or spots along the margins. These ticks are larger than some other common species, generally measuring about 1/3 inch long before feeding. They commonly inhabit woodlands with dense overgrowth, grassy meadows, tall grass, and brush, and are known to be aggressive biters.
Preventing tick bites is the most effective way to avoid tick-borne illnesses. When outdoors in tick-prone areas, wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts to minimize exposed skin. Use EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET (20-30%), picaridin (20%), or permethrin. Permethrin should be applied to clothing, boots, and gear, not directly to skin, and remains effective through several washings.
After returning indoors, perform a thorough tick check on your body, clothing, and pets. Ticks can attach to clothing, so tumbling clothes in a dryer on high heat for at least 10 minutes can kill any remaining ticks. Showering within two hours of coming indoors can also wash off unattached ticks and provides another opportunity for a quick body check. If a tick is found, remove it promptly and correctly using fine-tipped tweezers, grasping it as close to the skin’s surface as possible and pulling upward with steady, even pressure.