Prospective health assessment of Fort Campbell, Kentucky patrons bitten by ticks.
Amblyomma americanum is an aggressive human-biting tick that transmits several known human pathogens and is associated with a Lyme disease-like illness of unknown etiology. To determine the frequency, distinguishing clinical characteristics, and etiology ofA. americanum-associated illness and identify associated risk factors, a prospective study of adult tick-bite victims was conducted at Fort Campbell from 2005-2007. Forty-two participants submitted ticks, none of which contained Borrelia lonestari or B. burgdorferi DNA. Thirty-three participants completed a follow-up health survey; 14 reported at least one symptom; two had erythema migrans-like rash; eight sought medical evaluation for their symptoms. Findings suggest that a variety of symptoms are temporally associated with tick bite but data provide no clear evidence that reported symptoms were caused by an infectious process. Removing a tick by hand or being bitten on a limb may be a risk factor for illness.
Murphree
Rendi
R
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Vector Borne Infectious Disease, 3150 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA.
Hackwell
Nita
N
Mead
Paul S
PS
Bachand
Annette
A
Stromdahl
Ellen Y
EY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D012307:Risk Factors; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013987:Ticks / Q000145:classification*