Understanding Pennsylvania Tick Population and Tick-borne Disease Dynamics: A Retrospective Analysis of Archived Databases from 2008-2020

Ticks have been widely studied for their importance in disease transmission. In Pennsylvania, four different ticks (associated with human diseases) are commonly encountered: (1) Dermacentor variabilis (Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever); (2) Ixodes scapularis (Lyme disease); (3) Amblyomma americanum (Ehrlichiosis); and (4) I. cookei (possible Powassan). In addition to the commonly occurring tick species,approximately 25 species have been identified in the state. I. scapularis, which was once primarily found in Central and Eastern PA, can now be found in all counties in PA. In recent years, PA has had the highest confirmed numbers of Lyme disease cases in the United States. The increasing abundance and prevalence of ticks known to vector human pathogens has prompted public health concerns and further research. Despite the devastating consequences, and potentially fatal outcomes of tick-borne diseases, the local/regional distribution of ticks in Pennsylvania is under-investigated with regards to changes in tick populations and tick-borne disease dynamics.

Creator

• Sendatch, Julia
• Lehman, Marcie
• St. John, Heidi
• Farris, Christina
• Natalia, Nishi
• Luce-Fedrow, Alison
• Stewart, Richard

Language

• English

Palabra Clave

• Pennsylvania
• Tick
• Tick-borne Disease
• Retrospective Analysis

Date created

• 2021

Related URL

• Audio presentation:  https://marian.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=b81fbc09-c852-4e7f-8a18-adf701232beb

Resource type

• Poster

Rights statement

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/