New study shows high infection rates in Connecticut ticks

A new study in Connecticut found that nearly half of the deer ticks collected last year were infected with Lyme disease.

Out of 2,068 deer ticks tested at the Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases in New Haven, Connecticut, 46% carried the Lyme disease bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi.

Additionally, about 13% of the ticks carried another harmful pathogen called Babesia microti, which causes a serious blood infection in humans.

Researchers also discovered that 9% of the adult ticks carried Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which leads to anaplasmosis, a disease with symptoms like fever, headache, chills, and muscle aches. Another 2% carried Borrelia miyamotoi, which causes a recurring fever, and 1% carried the Powassan virus, which can lead to serious brain infections.

This study was part of a new, federally funded surveillance program in Connecticut to monitor ticks and the diseases they carry. In the first year, more than 2,500 ticks were collected from 40 locations across all eight Connecticut counties during the spring, summer, and fall of 2019.

Deer ticks, also known as black-legged ticks, were the most commonly collected species, followed by American dog ticks, lone star ticks, and Asian longhorned ticks.

The results showed that about 15% of the nymph (young) ticks carried Lyme disease, 6% carried babesiosis, 5% carried anaplasmosis, and 2% carried the bacteria that causes recurring fever.

The survey was funded by a one-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the Connecticut Department of Public Health. There is potential for this program to continue for several years to keep track of tick populations and the diseases they spread, helping the public take precautions when spending time outdoors.