Get your pre-paid collection kit

By Marshfield Clinic Health System

As summer holidays, vacations and outdoor activities hit high gear, scientists at Marshfield Clinic Research Institute are asking the public to submit ticks for the Tick Inventory via Citizen Science (TICS).

TICS was launched in April to survey the distribution of tick species in Wisconsin, including any new, invasive ticks that may be moving into Wisconsin. The response was phenomenal as citizens scooped up ticks they found in nature or crawled on themselves or their pets and sent them to the Research Institute in pre-paid collection kits. So far, scientists have identified more than 3,200 ticks submitted by citizens, most prominently the American dog (wood) tick and the deer (black-legged) tick.

Researchers also have identified nine brown dog ticks, which are most frequently found in the southern U.S., and five lone star ticks, mainly found in the southern and eastern U.S.

“The presence of brown dog and lone star ticks is intriguing as it may indicate spread from their typical habitats to Wisconsin,” said Alexandra Linz, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute associate research scientist. “We are trying to determine the extent and significance of this spread and the potential health effects.”

Ticks carry pathogens that may cause diseases such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. With new tick species becoming more prevalent in Wisconsin, the risk for potential newly introduced diseases increases. Brown dog ticks spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever and lone star ticks spread ehrlichiosis, primarily in warmer U.S settings. Possibly because of climate change, the incidence of both conditions has increased three-fold in the last two decades.

“Residents who enjoy the outdoors and physicians need to be aware of these diseases and their symptoms,” said Jennifer Meece, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute executive director. “As researchers, the information from this study and future studies can help us improve disease prevention efforts and early detection as well as develop better diagnostic tools and treatments.”

Ticks still needed, request a kit

For more information, or to request a pre-paid collection kit be sent to you, contact tics@marshfieldclinic.org or 1-715-389-7796 (extension 16462). Parks and nature centers interested in having kits available for their visitors also are encouraged to contact Marshfield Clinic Research Institute.

Once the tick, dead or alive, has been placed in the collection kit, just drop it in the mail to submit. Any tick found on people or pets is appreciated. Each kit will come with a unique identification number that people can use to look up, via an online dashboard, the species of ticks they submitted.

Prevention is key to avoid illness

The mild winter resulted in a bountiful tick population this spring, which means a greater chance of contracting a tick-borne illness. Symptoms of illnesses resulting from a tick bite can include rash, fever, joint pain, and fatigue. Contact your medical provider if you have these symptoms.

“Lyme disease is by far the most common tick-borne illness in Wisconsin. Testing is important, because early treatment is highly effective in preventing later stages of the disease from developing,” said Dr. Thomas Boyce, a pediatric infectious disease physician with Marshfield Clinic Health System. “If you remove a deer tick that is attached and engorged, a single dose of an antibiotic (doxycycline) can reduce the risk of contracting Lyme disease ten-fold (from 3% to 0.3%).”

To reduce the risk of tick bites, spray insecticide such as permethrin on clothing, sleeping bags, and tent fabric. Wear clothing that covers your skin. Finally, have someone help you check for ticks after time spent outdoors.

Tips to avoid tick bites

From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

You can limit your chance of contracting Lyme disease and other illnesses spread by ticks by following these tips to avoid tick bites:

• Cover as much of your body as possible; ideally, wear long sleeves and pants, and tuck shirts into pants and pants into socks.
• Walk in the center of trails where grass and vegetation are mowed.
• Wear light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot and remove quickly.
• Use an EPA-registered insect repellent when you head outdoors. You can also treat your clothes in advance with permethrin.
• Throw your clothes in the dryer for 10 minutes on high heat when you arrive home after recreating.
• Always check yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks, especially behind the knees, under the armpits, around the hairline and ears, and at the waist.

If you do find a tick embedded in your body, remain calm and remove it as soon as you find it. To remove the tick, use tweezers and grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible while gently pulling it up and out in one fluid motion. Make a note of the date you removed the tick, as this information may be helpful for your doctor to know. Save the tick in a sealed plastic bag or take a photo of the tick before disposing of it in case you develop symptoms later. The easiest way to dispose of a tick is by putting it in alcohol or flushing it down the toilet.