Tick Spread Coincides With Increased Lyme Disease In Pa.
UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre
Co.) Blacklegged ticks are on
the move in Pennsylvania. And
their spread has coincided with an
increase in reported cases of Lyme
disease in the past few yean, said
an expert in Penn State’s College
of Agricultural Sciences.
“We’re seeing blacklegged
ticks from areas where previously
none had been reported,” said Ste
ven Jacobs, extension entomolog
ist who oversees the entomology
department’s Insect Identification
Laboratory,
“Five yean ago, these ticks
were mostly limited to the south
east comer of the state, the north
central region around the Alle
gheny National Forest, and the
Presque Isle peninsula in Erie,”
Jacobs said. “Now they seem to be
established in more areas of cen
tral, western and southeastern
Pennsylvania, including Centre,
Blair, Cambria, Butler, Erie, and
York counties.”
Blacklegged ticks for several
years were known as deer ticks in
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the northern United Stales, until
scientific studies confirmed that
deer ticks were in fact smaller ver
sions of the blacklegged ticks
common in* the South, and not a
separate species.
The apparent increase in the
tick’s range in Pennsylvania is a
concern because of the role it
plays in spreading Lyme disease, a
neurological disorder that can
pause a variety of symptoms, in
cluding a bull’s-eye-like rash, fev
er, stiff neck, muscle aches, and
headaches. Left untreated, victims
can suffer facial palsy, arthritis,
and even paralysis. The disease
normally is treated with antibio
tics, but if not caught early, recov
ery can be slow and difficult
Lyme disease accounts for
more than 90 percent of vector
borne disease cases in the United
States, according to Jacobs. “In
1993, the incidence of Lyme dis
ease in Pennsylvania was eight
new cases per 100,000 people,” he
said. “In 1996, the latest year for
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which complete statistics are
available, the incidence of the dis
ease was more than 20 cases per
100,000 people, a 250 percent in
crease. In fact Pennsylvania now
ranks third in the nation in the.
number of new cases per year.
“It’s unclear whether there’s a
direct relationship between the
tick’s spread and the increase in
disease.” Jacobs said. “The in
crease could be partially due to in
creased public awareness and bet
ter diagnosis. But 1 suspect that
because the ticks are found in
more places, more people are
coming into contact with them and
contracting the disease.”
To survive and thrive, blackleg
ged ticks need appropriate hosts.
The adult ticks often are found on
white-tailed deer, and nymphal
stages will attach to mice, chip
munks, birds, and other small ani
mals. While awaiting a suitable
host, the ticks usually are found on
leaf litter or low branches in
- brushy, wooded areas. Regions
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such as southeastern Pennsylvania
with deer populations that are
concentrated but have limited mo
bility provide prime tick habi
tat
“Blacklegged ticks can be
found on many bird species,” Ja
cobs said. “Because of their mi
gratory paths, birds may transport
ticks to new areas along or east of
the state’s mountain ranges. Ticks
also can hitch rides with travelers
and their pets, particularly on
Tips For Reducing
Of Tick-Borne Disease
UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre
Co.) Steven Jacobs, extension
entomologist in Penn State’s Col
lege of Agricultural Sciences, of
fers these tips for avoiding tick
borne diseases, such as Lyme dis
ease and Rocky Mountain spotted
fever.
• Avoid high-risk (brushy,
wooded) areas and trails, especial
ly in April, May, June, and July.
• if you are planning to be in a
high-risk area, wear light-colored
clothing so you can more easily
detect dark-colored ticks.
• Check your clothing for ticks
every few minutes.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and
long pants tucked into socks.
’ Use a tick repellent containing
“DEBT” on your skin and clothes,
unless you have a known allergy
‘working’ dogs that are taken into
the field for hunting or show field
trials.”
With blacklegged ticks spread
ing into many areas of the state,
Jacobs urges continued caution.
"It’s more important than ever that
people take steps to avoid coming
into contact with ticks, especially
if they plan to be in high-risk
areas,” he said. “Also, know the
signs of Lyme disease, and see
your doctor if symptoms devcl
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Risk
to this compound.
• Inspect your clothes and body
carefully after returning from
high-risk areas.
• Inspect pets if they have been
in a high-risk area. On dogs and
cats, ticks often arc found around
the face and ears. Many sham
poos, sprays, and dusts are avail
able to eliminate ticks on pets.
Tick collars are less effective, but
are helpful as a repellent
• If you find a tick on a person
cr animal, remove it by carefully
grasping it at the mouthparts with'
fine point tweezers and firmly
pulling it off.
■ To learn more, contact your
county office of Penn State Co
operative Extension, your physi
cian or your local health depart
ment