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Scientific American
15 hours ago
- Health
- Scientific American
Why Ticks and Lyme Disease Are Soaring This Summer
I'd done everything you're supposed to do to avoid a tick bite: Tucked permethrin-impregnated pants into permethrin-impregnated socks. Sprayed picaridin on my boots. Once indoors, I removed my outdoor clothing in the garage and immediately took a shower. Did a full-body tick check before going to bed. I'd taken all these precautions just to prune my vegetable garden for half an hour. But I live in the forest in upstate New York, where tick populations are having a banner year. Several days later, I noticed a bite mark on my stomach, a tiny burgundy dot encircled by a pink histamine reaction. 'That's almost definitely a bite from a nymph tick that you never even saw,' my doctor said the moment she looked at it. She ordered a prescription for a two-week preventive course of the antibiotic doxycycline to prophylactically address Lyme disease, which can cause serious health problems if treatment is delayed. I didn't yet have the telltale bull's-eye rash or any other obvious symptoms, such as headaches, fever or extreme tiredness, but the numbers weren't on my side: approximately one in three nymph deer ticks (also known as black-legged ticks) in my region, as well as about half of adult deer ticks, carry the bacteria that causes Lyme, called Borrelia burgdorferi. If a bacteria-carrying tick has been embedded in your skin for more than 24 hours, transmission is likely. Lyme disease is a global health epidemic that grows bigger each year. What's worse is that Lyme is hardly the only serious tick-related disease to worry about now. At least five dangerous pathogens are circulating in deer ticks alone, which expand their range into new territories every year. At the same time, other tick species that can transmit different infections are showing up in ever bigger numbers. It's a public health concern that's hard for medical providers to keep up with. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. To understand what conditions are making 2025 a particularly bad year for ticks and tick-borne diseases in the northeastern U.S., I called Thomas Daniels, a vector ecologist. Daniels is director of the Louis Calder Center, a research field station near New York City operated by Fordham University, where, for 40 years, he has studied the black-legged tick, a primary disease vector for Lyme. At the research site, the number of ticks this year is 20 to 30 percent higher than in 2024. Daniels explained why the reason is more complicated than we think—and why popular wisdom about the relationship between warmer winters and tick populations is an oversimplification. [ An edited transcript of the interview follows. ] Why are the tick numbers so high in the northeast U.S. this year? We've been estimating the tick population for 40 years. Some years are hot tick years, and we don't have good reasons for that. A tick that has a two-year life cycle with three active life stages [larva, nymph and adult] in which they need to feed on a host in each stage means there's an awful lot of factors that can influence population numbers from one year to the next. What about the acorn theory, the idea that when oak trees produce a glut of acorns, we end up with a glut of ticks two years later? Vector-borne diseases like Lyme are diseases of ecology. Oak trees have masting years where they pump out lots of acorns. A mast event means lots of acorns for mice to feed on, which means you get lots more mice. White-footed mice are the primary [host of] Lyme; smaller rodents are capable of maintaining the infection and transferring it to ticks in [the bacteria's] immature stages. More mice mean more tick larvae. So the acorn hypothesis says that two years after the mast, you have lots of nymph ticks. Local differences in tick-disease numbers are a function of the rodents that happen to be in the area. But my opinion is the acorn story is so much more complicated. For instance, we didn't have a masting year two years ago in Westchester County [where the field site is located], and we have lots of ticks this year. People have published papers showing relationships between environmental factors [such as acorn masts] and tick numbers, but if you try to replicate that work, the relationships don't hold up over time. We know that climate change is a factor in expanding the range and number of ticks because these arachnids have an easier time surviving when temperatures remain above freezing. Are there more ticks in the Northeast simply because average temperatures are higher and ticks from warmer climates are expanding into places they couldn't exist previously? Climate change is having a big effect. But do warmer temperatures explain why in 2025 we have 20 to 30 percent more ticks than in 2024? Not really. There's a lot of speculation put forth as to why tick numbers are generally getting higher. There has been a bit of an extension in terms of the season: ticks are becoming more active earlier than they were 20 years ago. But local factors, such as relative humidity, rainfall, soil types, the number of earthworms available, how much leaf litter is available, the impact of invasive species, which ones have impact on host availability, and so on, can have significant effect. It could be more than 100 different things. In any one year, the [tick population size in one area] might be a result of a combination of several of those things, and in the next year, it will be a combination of entirely different things. Our knowledge of the ecology is pretty rudimentary, and then global warming changes what little we do know. What's an example of a climate-influenced environmental factor you're investigating now to understand changes in tick numbers? The role of invasive species—[the Louis Calder Center is an] 113-acre piece of property, and the forest here isn't the same as it was 40 years ago. We're looking at effects of certain invasive plantson tick numbers to see if they are playing a role—if they are more habitable to ticks. An aggressively spreading invasive [for example, a shrub such as Japanese barberry, or ground cover such as garlic mustard or mugwort] might be changing the microhabitats ticks have access to. That's all preliminary. But climate change means we're dealing with a moving target, and there's a lot of factors I wouldn't have even considered five years ago. Here's another question I hadn't thought about until recently: Are the different tick species going to start competing with one another? Because climate change is global, are tick populations growing and changing in the rest of the world, too? Yes. Ixodes ricinus [the castor bean tick] is the species that is largely responsible for Lyme in Europe, and it is spreading into new areas. In Russia, a different tick species [ Ixodes persulcatus ] carries Lyme, and its range is expanding, too. In some places, it might be becoming too hot for ticks, so maybe their range there could be decreasing. The tick population is high this year, but it also seems that the percentage of ticks carrying diseases is higher than usual, too. Is that accurate? The percentage of ticks carrying Borrelia burgdorferi [the bacteria that cause Lyme disease] are usually fairly stable for deer ticks: 25 to 30 percent of the nymphs are infected, and usually 40 to 50 percent of adults are infected. What about other diseases carried by black-legged ticks? When I started doing this work, we were looking for one thing in black-legged ticks: Borrelia burgdorferi [the bacteria that causes Lyme]. We didn't have Babesia [another parasite spread by black-legged ticks that causes babesiosis] in New York State. We weren't looking for what causes anaplasmosis [a disease caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum bacteria] because we didn't know about it. So then we were looking at three, then four pathogens instead of just one. Now we're looking at Powassan [a virus that can cause brain swelling], and we're at five pathogens that this one tick species can transmit. Any one black-legged tick can have one or more of those agents. So, yes, there is more risk. There's also the lone star tick, which can give people an allergy to red meat. And those numbers are on the rise. We also have the Asian longhorn tick, which has only been in this country for 10 years, as far as we know. We've been monitoring it [at the field station] for seven years, and it's not really biting people here yet. But if it starts, does it have anything it can potentially transmit? That's a new front. That's scary. I'm taking all the preventative steps yet still ended up with two ticks embedded in me (so far) this summer. Is it possible that tick behavior is changing as a result of some type of evolutionary strategy? [Laughs] I know exactly what to do to protect myself—I take all the precautions—and I've had Lyme disease three times. Are ticks doing anything differently? Probably not. They have been around for 100 million years—they know how to find a host and feed and go undetected. This time of year, they are the size of a poppy seed. They may at some point evolve resistance to some of the pesticides and insecticides we use. But for now, they still go up to quest [for a host] and down to rest. Last question, from everyone who lives in a tick hotspot: Do you think we'll finally get a vaccine that protects against Lyme disease? I see that one candidate is in phase 3 clinical trials. I'm assuming you know the story of the vaccine we didn't get. That vaccine [LYMErix] had an odd action. It was geared toward attacking the outer surface protein of the spirochete [the corkscrew-shaped bacterium], but these pathogens developed a system of changing their outer surface protein when it's in something warm-blooded, like a host—in an attempt to avoid the immune system. So that vaccine was effective in killing the bacteria when it was still inside the tick but not so much once it enters a host. Now we understand more about the biology of the spirochete and can better target what's inside of it. Trying to come up with a vaccine against a bacterium is not as simple as against a virus. I think we'll get there, and that will be a huge help. But a Lyme vaccine will only target that one pathogen unless we come up with something that could target the tick itself. There are a lot of things in tick saliva to target. Even if we get there, then we'll have to contend with antivaccine sentiment, which is much stronger than it was 20 years ago. Still, there is a yearning for something that is going to reduce risk.
Business Wire
10-07-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Sanger Sequencing of Borrelia burgdorferi flaB Gene Paralogs Can Detect a Single Bacterium for the Diagnosis of Lyme Disease Spirochetemia, Reported Milford Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory
MILFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sin Hang Lee, M.D., director of Milford Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory in Milford, Conn., announces that the Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes invading the blood stream of the patients at the early localized stage of Lyme disease have duplicate flaB gene paralogs in their chromosome. For Sanger sequencing-based diagnosis of Lyme disease spirochetemia, the flaB gene with its paralogs is a more sensitive chromosomal target than the 16S rRNA gene aiming to detect a single Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium in venous blood specimens, as reported in an article published in Frontier in Bioscience-Scholar The article emphasizes the importance of timely differential centrifugation of the whole blood specimens to isolate the platelet fraction, which contains the spirochetes, for DNA extraction because delayed centrifugation allows the highly mobile spirochetes to attach to and invade the lymphocytes in the test tube at ambient temperature, then to be lost in the buffy coat. These findings are based on a study of the platelet-rich plasma specimens from 145 people, including 98 symptomatic patients, residing in Lyme disease-endemic areas in the United States during a Lyme disease season in 2023. Based on the findings of this study, Dr. Lee has sent an open letter to the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urging the CDC to assist the hospital laboratories located in Lyme-disease endemic areas to implement methods to detect spirochetemia for early diagnosis and timely treatment of Borrelia burgdorferi infections Milford Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory is CLIA-certified. Its 'nested PCR and direct automated DNA sequencing-based method for qualitative detection/identification of Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) and Borrelia miyamotoi in whole blood specimens' is also approved by the New York State Department of Health for residents of the State of New York, said Dr. Lee. Healthcare providers and laboratories interested in DNA sequencing-based diagnosis of Lyme disease spirochetemia for their patients may obtain more information by contacting Milford Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory via
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Tick alert: Scientists warn of increasing tick population in US: Affected areas, health risks and how to stay safe
Image credits: Getty Images The summer season has officially begun and so has the arrival of ticks in various regions of the states. It is during this season that stepping outside exposes you not only to scorching heat but also dangerous ticks whose populations are not only increasing but also migrating. Below, find major areas affected by ticks, health risks these little threats pose and measures to stay safe. Rise of tick population in the US Image credits: Getty Images According to the New York Times, at least four types of ticks have not only multiplied at alarming rates but are also migrating beyond the limits of their preferred habitats. While the Deer ticks are expanding north, the long-horned ticks are moving westward from the West Coast, the Gulf Coast ticks are migrating to more northern territory and the lone star ticks are making a large move from the south to the north and have been found in Canada. Along with moving into new areas, they are now staying active for a much longer period which the scientists say is because of climate change. According to them, the increasing temperatures of the planet make it possible for ticks to live in habitats that were previously less hospitable. Additionally, their typical habitats have become even more warmer, thus increasing their life span. Health risks posed by tick bites Image credits: Getty Images According to the data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in May, the rate of people seeking emergency care for tick bites was the highest it's been since 2019. As per a study published in ScienceDirect, over 31 million people (nearly 1 in 10) living in the US experience tick bites every year. While not every tick bite leads to diseases and not every tick bites long enough to transmit them, tick-borne diseases are the most common vector-borne infections in the United States. Lyme disease is the most frequent tick-borne disease in the U.S., estimated to affect more than 470,000 people every year. Additionally, tick bites can cause anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and alpha-gal syndrome (an allergy to red meat). Concerns for tick bites vary according to areas Image credits: Getty Images North : Tick bites are most common in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic and Upper Midwest with nearly 20% of people getting them per year. According to research by the CDC, Lyme disease is a high risk in these regions. The bacteria that causes the disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, is the common pathogen that is carried by deer ticks in this region. Only 2-6% of ticks in the area might carry other bacteria that cause anaplasmosis, babesiosis or relapsing fever. South : In the central and southeastern parts, 13% of people report tick bites. Here, ehrlichiosis, spotted fever rickettsioses and the allergic condition alpha-gal syndrome are the top concerns. West : In western states, including California, tick bites are less common with around 6% reports. Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are some of the diseases people get there. How to stay safe from tick bites? Image credits: Getty Images Wearing long pants and sleeves and tucking your pants into socks or shoes and the shirt into pants can protect the body from ticks latching onto it. One can also use tick repellents containing DEET, picaridin or other active ingredients when going outside. When outside, try to stay away from shrubs or foliage as ticks tend to reside there. Treat outdoor clothing with permethrin, to stop ticks from biting. In the case of a tick bite, remove the tick from the body but don't throw it away as it would help determine your risks. Perform careful and frequent tick checks. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Sydney Morning Herald
12-06-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
How getting bitten on a hiking trip turned into an acclaimed solo show
For performer Andi Snelling, the merry-go-round of life took an unlucky turn on a hiking trip overseas in 2014. It wasn't until three years later she would be diagnosed with a chronic form of the tick-borne illness Lyme disease. That life-changing experience became the basis for her remarkable solo show, Happy-Go-Wrong, revived in Melbourne this month. 'The wild thing is that I saw it, the tick,' says Snelling. 'It was in my left armpit, but I didn't realise it was a tick at the time … because I have bushy armpits, it kinda got lost in the hair. To me, it looked like a mole or something.' A bizarre constellation of symptoms derailed Snelling's life over the ensuing years. Transient arthritis. Constant fatigue. Heart palpitations. Major gastrointestinal problems. Neurological and cognitive difficulties: memory loss, seizures, and the onset of what appeared to be dyslexia that Snelling, an avid diarist, noticed in her writing. 'My body started changing in the way it was functioning,' she says. 'I started getting sick in a variety of mysterious ways. It was like these disconnected dots that nobody could put together to form one picture … it was very elusive, very hard to pin down.' So began a medical odyssey in which Snelling recalls encountering confusion, misdiagnosis, and Kafka-like bureaucratic hurdles to accessing treatment. 'Being gaslit was a feature of the whole fricken medical journey that I went on,' she says. 'I saw so many different doctors, and they all said different things … fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome … even after a correct diagnosis, the terminology used about Lyme disease in Australia, and treatment for it, is a politically sensitive issue.' 'I started getting sick in a variety of mysterious ways.' Andi Snelling That's because there's no scientific evidence that the specific species of bacteria causing Lyme, Borrelia burgdorferi, exists in Australia, although related species have been found in ticks here, and locally acquired cases of tick-borne disease were recently aired in a Senate inquiry into the matter. Snelling made a public submission detailing her gruelling experiences, but it's her artistic contribution that's made a bigger splash. Happy-Go-Wrong is not your typical autobiographical solo performance. It combines raw reflection on the exhausting lows of being struck down by ill health with clowning of astonishing physicality.
The Age
12-06-2025
- Health
- The Age
How getting bitten on a hiking trip turned into an acclaimed solo show
For performer Andi Snelling, the merry-go-round of life took an unlucky turn on a hiking trip overseas in 2014. It wasn't until three years later she would be diagnosed with a chronic form of the tick-borne illness Lyme disease. That life-changing experience became the basis for her remarkable solo show, Happy-Go-Wrong, revived in Melbourne this month. 'The wild thing is that I saw it, the tick,' says Snelling. 'It was in my left armpit, but I didn't realise it was a tick at the time … because I have bushy armpits, it kinda got lost in the hair. To me, it looked like a mole or something.' A bizarre constellation of symptoms derailed Snelling's life over the ensuing years. Transient arthritis. Constant fatigue. Heart palpitations. Major gastrointestinal problems. Neurological and cognitive difficulties: memory loss, seizures, and the onset of what appeared to be dyslexia that Snelling, an avid diarist, noticed in her writing. 'My body started changing in the way it was functioning,' she says. 'I started getting sick in a variety of mysterious ways. It was like these disconnected dots that nobody could put together to form one picture … it was very elusive, very hard to pin down.' So began a medical odyssey in which Snelling recalls encountering confusion, misdiagnosis, and Kafka-like bureaucratic hurdles to accessing treatment. 'Being gaslit was a feature of the whole fricken medical journey that I went on,' she says. 'I saw so many different doctors, and they all said different things … fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome … even after a correct diagnosis, the terminology used about Lyme disease in Australia, and treatment for it, is a politically sensitive issue.' 'I started getting sick in a variety of mysterious ways.' Andi Snelling That's because there's no scientific evidence that the specific species of bacteria causing Lyme, Borrelia burgdorferi, exists in Australia, although related species have been found in ticks here, and locally acquired cases of tick-borne disease were recently aired in a Senate inquiry into the matter. Snelling made a public submission detailing her gruelling experiences, but it's her artistic contribution that's made a bigger splash. Happy-Go-Wrong is not your typical autobiographical solo performance. It combines raw reflection on the exhausting lows of being struck down by ill health with clowning of astonishing physicality.
