Each year, many thousands of Americans are likely to get bitten by a tick. Although some tick victims experience nothing more than an itchy, uncomfortable bite that heals within a week or so, others are not so lucky. Official figures show that, in 2020, more than 50,000 people were reported as suffering from a tick-acquired infection illness.
Unfortunately, ticks can carry a wide range of unpleasant, infectious diseases. They can even transfer Alpha-gal carbohydrates between hosts, potentially triggering a lethal allergic reaction! Read on to discover the sixteen unpleasant diseases ticks may carry, as well as discover more about the Alpha-gal carbohydrate, that could result in a lifetime allergy to common foodstuffs.
Tick-Borne Diseases
There are at least sixteen infectious diseases that ticks can pass from host to host.
- Bourbon Virus
- Hartland Virus
- Lyme Disease
- Anaplasmosis
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF)
- 364D rickettsiosis
- Borrelia Miyamotoi
- Powassan Disease
- Babesiosis
- Ehrlichiosis
- Tularemia
- Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF)
- Borrelia Mayonii
- Colorado Tick Fever
- Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI)
- Rickettsia Parkeri Rickettsiosis
Complications from these infections include destruction of red blood cells, encephalitis, seizures, permanent muscle wastage, permanent brain damage, nerve pain, facial palsy, and/or arthritis. For some people, an infection spread through a tick bite may, unfortunately, prove fatal.
Tick-Borne Carbohydrate can Cause Severe Anaphylaxis
As already mentioned, ticks can spread the Alpha-gal carbohydrate. The introduction of the Alpha-gal carbohydrate by the tick causes some people to produce antibodies. When those individuals eat a foodstuff containing Alpha-gal, such as red meat, dairy products, milk, and gelatin, the antibodies are triggered, causing an allergic reaction.
As the allergic reaction occurs some hours after eating, affected individuals may not realize the cause. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Alpha-gal syndrome.
Eliminate Ticks From Your Property
As we can see there are several reasons to fear ticks. Why run the risk of contracting an infectious disease from a tick when there is a range of effective management and elimination options available?
Contact the team at Long Island tick spraying company, Kavanaugh Organic Tick Control for more information.
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