Vector-borne disease testing: SOUTH
Combatting vector-borne illness with full-spectrum testing
In the Southern United States, tick and mosquito populations thrive during lengthy seasons of hot, humid weather. Ixodes scapularis, or the black-legged/deer tick; Amblyomma americanum, or the lone star tick; Amblyomma maculatum, or the Gulf Coast tick; and Dermacentor variabilis, or the American dog tick, are the primary tick species in the South. These species are responsible for transmitting numerous pathogens that lead to hundreds of cases of Lyme disease, spotted fever group Rickettsia (SFGR), and Ehrlichia chaffeensis each year. Given that certain tick species can transmit multiple different pathogens, advanced testing is key to accurately identifying the infectious agent(s).
Tick-borne illness
The most common tick-borne illness in the Southern U.S. is Lyme disease, which is transmitted by the black-legged tick. This tick, along with the American dog tick, or Dermacentor variabilis, can also transmit anaplasmosis and tularemia, which were reported in dozens of individuals in 2022 and 2023.2 In addition to these infections, American dog ticks, along with lone star ticks and Gulf Coast ticks, can transmit Rickettsia species, which are highly prevalent in the South. The lone star tick is also responsible for causing Alpha-gal syndrome, which has been reported throughout the region within the past few years.
Because these conditions often have similar initial symptom presentations, it can be challenging for physicians to identify the specific illness infecting their patients.
Tick-borne disease testing
Mosquito-borne illness
In the Southern U.S., the most common mosquito-borne illnesses are West Nile virus, which can be transmitted by several mosquito species, including Culex mosquitoes, and La Crosse encephalitis, which can be transmitted by the Culiseta and Aedes mosquito species. West Nile virus typically causes headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, and skin rash, but symptoms can evolve to more serious neurological forms, including encephalitis or meningitis, if left untreated.
Mosquito-borne diseases testing
References
- Lyme disease surveillance data. Lyme disease. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/data-research/facts-stats/surveillance-data-1.html. Page updated 2/11/25. Page accessed 5/14/25.
- CDC Wonder. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NNDSS Annual Summary Data 2016-2022 Request
- Data and maps for West Nile. West Nile Virus. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/west-nile-virus/data-maps/index.html. Page updated 6/18/24. Page accessed 5/14/25.