As millions of Americans head outside for camping trips, hiking, and backyard BBQs, billions of ticks are already waiting in the grass, ready to bite. Not only are their numbers growing, but today's ticks are more likely to carry Lyme disease bacteria and other dangerous pathogens.
"It's really bad. It's everywhere, and in most places in the Northeast. It's been really spreading, like wildfire, as they say. That's not an exaggeration," said Michel Shamoon-Pour, co-director of the Tick-Borne Disease Center at Binghamton University, State University of New York.
Of the approximately 500,000 new cases of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases reported each year in the U.S., 95% of them occur in the Upper Midwest and the Northeast - the same region covered by Binghamton's Tick-Borne Disease Center. Shamoon-Pour, along with Director Yetrib Hathout, Co-Director Mandy Roome, and student researchers, conduct various studies to track tick populations and determine which pathogens they carry - with the goals of advancing research discovery, improving risk assessment, and informing treatment, prevention, and public health responses.
In recent years, the tick situation in the U.S. has become "unreal," said Shamoon-Pour.
"In many places, you can sit on grass for five minutes, and you're likely to get a tick on you. It's gotten so bad that it's become extremely difficult to do outdoor activities, like camping, without getting bitten," he said.
Binghamton researchers collect between 250 and 400 ticks a year to test for Lyme disease and other pathogens. This summer, they are providing data to the Broome County Health Department to better understand which tick-borne pathogens are present locally. Based on their findings, 50-60% of ticks in the county now carry Lyme disease bacteria. Another recent study conducted by Roome revealed that ticks are a growing threat to farmers and agricultural workers - with some encountering as many as 70 ticks in a 6-month period.
Ancestry.com for ticks
In addition to testing for pathogens, Binghamton researchers conduct genetic studies to trace the origins of ticks and map their lineages.
"It's like Ancestry.com for ticks. It's about getting some basic understanding of how ticks are related, because that may tell us something about how their populations spread or grow," said Shamoon-Pour.
Recently, the team has noticed a greater diversity of ticks, suggesting a complex pattern of movement and perhaps the introduction or reintroduction of animals, including birds.
"Once you do some sort of genetic testing, you get an idea of what the genetics of a tick looks like from 10 different places. Then you can see how they are related. Do they look like the rest of the ticks in the Northeast? Do they look like ticks found in Canada, Georgia, or the Midwest? Because if you do, it suggests some sort of connection."
Shamoon-Pour is also working with researchers at Upstate Medical University to study Haemaphysalis longicornis, or the Asian long-horned tick. It's not local to Binghamton - at least not yet - but it has become a growing issue in states like New Jersey.
"Although it was first reported in the United States less than a decade ago, it's already had a huge impact, leading to billions of dollars in losses to the cattle industry, for instance," said Shamoon-Pour.
A climate-fueled surge
What's causing this explosion in the tick population? Climate change is a big factor, said Shamoon-Pour. Shorter winters and longer warm seasons have led to increased populations of animals that carry black-legged ticks, such as white-tailed deer and white-footed mice.
"In general, even small rodents and other species that are like a reservoir, like the white-footed mouse, actually play an even bigger role. And that kind of relates to how much trash is out there. So if you get more trash, you can get more Lyme disease, which is kind of odd, but makes sense once you know how things work."
Climate change has also led to fewer freezing days, thus more days during the year when ticks are active.
"Ticks are not out when it's freezing. When it's warm, they're active," said Shamoon-Pour. "So the number of days that you sit on grass and a tick gets on you has been going up."
Prevention is key
There is no approved vaccine for Lyme disease yet, and doctors can't agree on the best treatment. For now, researchers at the Tick-Borne Disease Center recommend staying vigilant in protecting yourself.
- Cover up. The less your skin is exposed, the better. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
- Lighten up. Ticks are harder to spot when you're wearing dark colors, so wear lighter colors.
- Use Permethrin: Spray your clothes, not your skin, with this synthetic insecticide.
- Stay on path: When you visit a park, stay in the middle of the trail, as ticks are mostly found in bushes, branches and amidst the overgrowth.
- Check your pets: Animals, especially dogs, can act as "sentinel species." If a tick gets on your dog, it might take a ride home with you and your pet.
- Use a lint roller: Even if you wear light-colored clothing, it can be hard to spot a tick. Use a lint roller (the kind with sticky paper) on yourself and your pets - the ticks will stick to the roller instead of you.
- Dry your clothes: Ticks can survive the washing machine, but they can't survive the dryer. Throw your clothes in high heat for 20 minutes.
Tick-Borne Disease Symposium
The Tick-Borne Disease Center will host its annual symposium on May 23 at the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The event will feature 30-minute talks and Q&A sessions with researchers and health professionals focused on advances in tick-borne disease research. Topics discussed will include ticks and tick-borne pathogen screening; tick physiology and behavior; and strategies for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of tick-borne diseases.
To register, fill out the Google Form
