IDENTIFICATION ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER AND TESTING Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a bacterial disease Identification of is the first step in transmitted by ticks. The American dog ( determining disease risk because not all Tick-Borne variabilis) is the primary carrier and is Ohio’s most ticks cause human disease. Certain common tick. species of ticks may be tested for that can cause Rocky Mountain Diseases spotted fever (RMSF) or . Ohio reports approximately 10 cases of RMSF per year. Kent Loeffler The majority of RMSF cases occur in the southeastern To submit a tick for I.D. or testing, United States. keep the tick alive and place it in a tightly sealed container (pill bottle, film container) with a small piece of Most Ohio RMSF cases occur between April and August when dog tick populations are moistened paper towel. Send the tick high. Adult ticks look for large hosts such as dogs, but they will also feed on humans. to the address below and include a note with the date it was found and what adult adult nymph larva Dog ticks are often found in overgrown lots and along weedy roadsides, paths and county the tick came from. female male Blacklegged Tick ( scapularis) hiking trails. In spring and summer, adult ticks wait on vegetation for a host to pass by. For more information, contact your When a person or brushes against the vegetation, the tick will cling to fur or local health department, or contact us at: Lone Star Tick clothing and crawl upward, looking for a place to attach and begin feeding. ( americanum) Zoonotic Disease Program Contrary to popular belief, ticks don’t fall out of trees, they climb up to your head and attach to your scalp. Ohio Department of Health Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis) 8955 E. Main St. Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis) Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068 SYMPTOMS OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER Symptoms usually appear three to 12 days after tick contact. There is a sudden onset Tel. 614-752-1029 of symptoms, which include high fever, headache and aching muscles. Fax 614-644-1057

On the second or third day of fever a pink, non-itchy rash may develop on the wrists, forearms and ankles.

IF YOU DEVELOP SYMPTOMS FOLLOWING TICK CONTACT, SEE YOUR PHYSICIAN It is important to receive the appropriate antibiotics as soon as possible if RMSF is suspected. The fatality rate is about 4 percent and most deaths occur because of a delay in seeking medical attention. If RMSF is recognized and treated early, there is usually a rapid recovery. 0846.11 rev. 5/2007 PREVENTION OF LYME DISEASE TICK-BORNE DISEASE Lyme disease is a bacterial disease carried by There are two forms of ehrlichiosis in the the black-legged tick (aka the deer tick), United States—Human monocytic The risk of exposure to ticks and disease . Since 1990, more than ehrlichiosis (HME) and human granulocytic can be reduced by using precautions: 157,000 cases have been reported nationwi d e . ehrlichiosis (HGE). HME was first described Most cases were reported from the New in 1987 and is transmitted by the Lone star • Avoid tick-infested areas. England and Middle Atlantic States, especially tick, . HGE was • If exposure is unavoidable, tuck pants New York, New Jersey and Pen n s l y va n i a . first described in 1994 and is transmitted into sock tops or boots. About half of Ohio's reported cases were by the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis. • Wear light-colored clothing to make it actually acquired out-o f- s t a t e . easier to find crawling ticks. SYMPTOMS OF EHRLICHIOSIS SYMPTOMS OF • Use repellants and follow label Symptoms may appear up to 10 days after instructions carefully. LYME DISEASE a tick bite and include fever, headache, • Check children for ticks frequently. • Red, ring-like rash lethargy and muscle ache. (60 percent of Ehrlichiosis is treated with antibiotics. • Use caution when handling ticks and cases). dispose of properly. • Fever.

DOGS • Fatigue. Ixodes scapularis, female TICK REMOVAL • Dogs can become infected with tick- • Headache. • If a tick is attached, remove it as borne diseases. • Joint pain. soon as possible; this reduces your • Dogs should be kept in well-mowed risk of infection. areas during tick season (April-August). IF YOU DEVELOP SYMPTOMS • Treatments are available to control ticks FOLLOWING TICK CONTACT, • Shield fingers with a paper towel or use tweezers. Grasp the tick close to on dogs. Always follow label SEE YOUR PHYSICIAN instructions. the skin. With steady pressure, pull Immediate antibiotic therapy will reduce the the tick straight up and out. • Inspect dogs for ticks every day. Ticks Ixodes scapularis Amblyomma americanum risk of arthritis, and neurological or cardiac female should be handled with caution and female questing complications. disposed of safely. • Do not twist or jerk the tick. This may cause the mouth parts to be left in • Keep yard and outdoor play areas well TRANSMISSION OF the skin. mowed to discourage tick . LYME DISEASE • Do not crush or puncture the tick. The black-legged tick is rare in Ohio and only 26 have been found since 1983. • Do not use a flame or cigarette to Neither the tick nor the Lyme disease remove a tick. This may cause the organism has been proven to be established tick to burst and increase disease risk. in Ohio. However, the fact that the black- legged tick has been found in Ohio means • After removing a tick, thoroughly dis- they are being imported into Ohio on infect the bite site and wash hands migratory birds, travelers and pets. with soap and water. Tick Habitat