Researchers Found Ticks That Carry Lyme Disease In Eastern National Parks

Researchers from the National Park Service (NPS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collected ticks along hiking trails in nine eastern national parks. They found blacklegged ticks also known as Ixodes scapularis or deer ticks infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease in all nine parks.

 Although, researchers already suspects their presence as Lyme disease has been reported in the region, the study is the first to confirm the presence of these ticks. The disease has been spreading across the United States over the past decades.

The disease is characterized by an expanding area of redness which begins at the site of a tick bite about a week after it has occurred. Up to 50 percent of infected person do not develop a rash which is typically, neither itchy nor painful but it is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, headache, Fatigue.

If left untreated, symptoms could worsen and cause inability to move one or both sides of the face, joint pains, neck stiffness or heart palpitations which may re-occur months to years later.

"We know Lyme disease is increasing both in numbers of infections and in geographic range in the United States," Tammi Johnson, a researcher from the CDC said.

This is the first large-scale survey in multiple national parks, though suspected, it had not been previously confirmed that ticks in many of these parks were infected. It is quite likely that ticks infected with Lyme disease spirochetes are present in other parks in Lyme disease endemic areas, too, Johnson added.

The study's authors said the discovery should not come as a surprise, as these tick-borne diseases occur in this area of the country.

"Having local information about real-time risk can help motivate visitors to reduce that risk." Danielle Buttke, study co-author from the NPS says.

Here are some of the best ways that park visitors may reduce that risk, according the CDC and NPS: Use of repellents which contain 20-30% DEET on skin and clothing, using products that contain permethrin on clothing, take a bath within two hours of leaving a tick-prone area and regular check of body for ticks and remove attached ticks.

 It is also advised to dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill any ticks on clothings, check pets and gear regularly for ticks, hike in the center of trails and avoid sitting down or on logs or bushes along the trail, according to Science Daily.

Johnson said the result of the study is a reminder that, while enjoying the parks, visitors should take steps to help protect themselves and their loved ones from tick and other bites.

Buttke stated that potential visitors should not be scared to visit the parks as the positives of parks still outweigh the risk of Lyme disease. She added that tick-borne diseases are preventable and treatable.

The NPS is working to help protect visitors through an active tick-borne disease prevention program, which includes education for both visitors and employees and studies to better understand why tick-borne disease is expanding on a dramatic scale.

The study was conducted at Acadia National Park, Fire Island National Seashore, Catoctin Mountain Park, Gettysburg National Military Park, Monocacy National Battlefield, Prince William Forest Park, Manassas National Battlefield Park, Shenandoah National Park and Rock Creek Park, according to Medical Express.

The Authors published their findings in the Journal of Medical Entomology.