ANA Continuing Education 1999: Lyme Disease
Page 11: Other Tick-Borne Diseases
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Table 3 shows numerous tick-borne illnesses, some very similar in nature to Lyme disease. Understanding these other illnesses, including the causative agent, symptoms, diagnostic tests and treatment will enable providers to differentiate Lyme disease from other illnesses, and implement the most appropriate course of action. Possible infection with more than one tick-borne disease makes differentiation crucial and underscores the importance of prevention messages.

Table 3: Other tick-borne illnesses
Disease Tick Vector Causative Agent Incubation Period Classic Symptoms
Lyme Disease Deer Tick (Ixodes scapularis)

Western Pacific black-legged tick, (Ixodes pacificus)

 Borrelia burgdorferi

 3 days - 6 months Erythema migrans (EM), fever, swelling of the joints, neurological manifestations, cardiac arrythmias
Babesiosis Deer Tick (Ixodes scapularis), Other Ixodes ticks possible Babesia microti 1 - 52 weeks Fever, hemolytic anemia, constitutional symptoms, possible death
Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis Deer Tick (Ixodes scapularis), American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variables), Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum) Ehrlichia equi 1 - 30 days Fever, headaches, constitutional symptoms, possible death
Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum) Ehrlichia chafeenis 1 - 30 days Fever, headache, constitutional symptoms, possible death
Powassan Virus Encephalitis Woodchuck Tick (Ixodes cookei) flavivirus (specific strain) 7 - 14 days fever, meningoencephalitis, 10% fatality rate, 50% neurological sequella
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever American Dog Tick (Dermacentor voriadilis), Rocky Mountain Wood Tick (Dermacentor andersonii) Rickettsia rickettsia 3 - 14 days Sudden fever, maculopapular rash on soles of hands and feet that spreads over entire body, 3-5% fatality rate
Tick Paralysis American Dog Tick (Dermacentor voriadilis), Rocky Mountain Wood Tick (Dermacentor andersonii), Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum) Neurotoxin (excreted from the tick's salivary gland) 5 - 7 days Fatigue, flaccid paralysis, tongue and facial paralysis, convulsion, death
Tularemia American Dog Tick (Dermacentor voriadilis), Rocky Mountain Wood Tick (Dermacentor andersonii), Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum) Francisella tularensis 1 - 14 days Indolent ulcers, swollen lymph nodes, death
Q-fever Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanquineness), Rocky Mountain Wood Tick (Dermacentor andersonii), Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum) Coxiella burnetii 2 - 3 weeks Acute fever, sweats, chills
Tick Relapsing fever Relapsing-fever tick Borrelia hermsii 5 - 15 days Intermittent fevers, petechial rashes, 2 - 10% fatality rate
Colorado Tick Fever Rocky Mountain Wood Tick (Dermacentor andersonii) Colorado Tick Fever virus 4 - 5 days Fevers with remission, followed by a second bout of fever

Source: New York State Department of Health
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