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Which diseases can ticks transmit to people?
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arthropod
Spiny lobster, or rock lobster (Palinurus elephas).
Ticks are significant vectors of disease, second only to mosquitoes among arthropods in the number of illnesses they transmit to humans. These parasites can carry various bacteria, viruses, and protozoan pathogens.123
Common diseases transmitted by ticks include:
- Lyme disease: The most common tick-borne illness in North America and Europe.34
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever: A severe, potentially fatal form of [typhus].3
- Anaplasmosis: A bacterial infection that has seen increased incidence in recent years.3
- Babesiosis: A parasitic infection affecting red blood cells.3
- Tularemia: A disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis.3
- Ehrlichiosis: An infection often associated with the lone star tick.3
- Colorado tick fever: A viral disease found primarily in western North America.3
- Tick-borne encephalitis: A viral infection transmitted by certain Ixodes species.1
- Relapsing fever: Transmitted by certain soft ticks of the genus Ornithodoros.2
- Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever: A viral disease spread by Hyalomma ticks.1
Preventing tick bites—such as by wearing protective clothing, using repellents, and checking for ticks after outdoor activity—is essential for reducing the risk of these infections.1