What Diseases are Transmitted by The Common Dog Tick, Dermacentor Variabilis?

The common dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, is a vector for several diseases. These diseases include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. In the Northeast, the tick is known to transmit Lyme disease. The tick needs to attach to a host to spread any of these diseases. The dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, is a common vector for a variety of diseases. These include Eastern equine encephalitis and southern tick-associated rash illness. The dog tick can also transmit the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease.

Diseases are Transmitted by The Common Dog Tick, Dermacentor Variabilis

The common dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, is a common animal that can transmit a variety of diseases to people. Diseases that can be contracted by the tick include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Eastern equine encephalitis. The tick can also spread bacteria such as Strep A and E Coli to people. It is important for people to know about the dangers of this animal and to take precautions when outdoors to avoid being bitten by the tick.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), seven diseases can be transmitted by the common dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis.

These diseases are:

• Lyme disease,
• Anaplasmosis,
• Babesiosis,
• Ehrlichiosis,
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever,
• Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis and Human microencephaly. 

Lyme disease is the most common of these seven diseases and is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi which is transferred to humans through the bite of an infected tick.

Anaplasmosis is an infection caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum which is also spread through ticks.

Babesiosis is an infection caused by Babesia microtithath that can be spread through blood transfusions and close contact with an infected animal.

Ehrlichiosis is a serious infection caused by the bacterium Ehrlichia chaffeensis. It can cause severe illnesses in humans, including fever, muscle aches, and rash.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a viral disease that is most commonly spread through contact with infected deer or elk blood. Symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever include high fever, headache, and skin rash. Both ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever can be fatal if not treated quickly.

Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) and human microencephaly illnesses are caused by a virus and can be deadly if not treated promptly. HGE is a rare infection that can cause fever, muscle aches, and severe chest pain. In some cases, it can lead to full-blown leukemia. Human microencephaly is a birth defect in which the baby’s brain doesn’t develop properly.

Symptoms may include small head size, developmental delay, seizures, and mental delays. It is most often diagnosed in babies born to mothers who have HGE or another tick-borne disease, such as Lyme disease.