Understanding Tickborne Disease

Tickborne diseases are becoming a more frequent health problem as people build homes or travel in formerly uninhabited wilderness areas where ticks and their animal hosts live. Ticks can be infected with bacteria, viruses or parasites.
Tickborne Diseases in the United States
- Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF)
- Babesiosis
- Colorado tick fever (CTF)
- Tularemia
- Relapsing fever (Borrelia)
- STARI
- Deer tick virus (Powassan)
- Heartland virus
- Bourbon virus
- Tick paralysis
Tick Season
Tick season runs from April to September, with peak months being May through August.
Disease Transmittal
Tick species vary by geographical area. Only the bites of certain tick species can transmit disease to humans.
Tickborn Testing Information
For additional information regarding Antigen and Antibody testing strategies, refer to our Laboratory Test Directory.
Additional Resources
ARUP Consult
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia Species - Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis
- Babesia microti - Babesiosis
- Borrelia Species - Lyme Disease and Borrelia hermsii
- Rickettsia rickettsii - Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
- Rickettsia typhi - Typhus Fever