Introduction   

Ticks are more than just a bothersome pest; they are carriers of debilitating diseases. Tickborne diseases are unfortunately increasing in incidence. Clinicians should expect tickborne disease in patients presenting with flu-like symptoms during the spring and summer months. This is especially true in regions with rich biodiversity like Texas.  

We will review the most common types of ticks and the diseases they carry. These diseases, while potentially severe, are treatable, especially when caught early. The course will review symptoms, stages, and the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases.  

It is meaningful to explore the diagnostic tests and treatment protocols for tick-borne illnesses, including the use of antibiotics and supportive care measures. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can prevent complications and death.  

We will closely examine the pharmacokinetics of each medication used to treat the diseases, including its uses, mechanism of action, side effects, and contraindications. Counseling patients on preventative measures such as protective clothing and tick repellents during outdoor activities can help minimize the risk of infection.  

Introduction to Ticks 

Ticks found in Texas encompass a variety of species, each with unique characteristics and disease implications. They are most active in the warmer months of spring and summer. The most common ticks in Texas are the Lone Star, American dog, Black-legged, and Brown dog ticks. These species vary in appearance, habitat preferences, and the diseases they can transmit.  

Lone Star Tick  

Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma Americanum): A distinct white dot or “lone star” on the female’s back helps identify this tick easily. It is found throughout Texas, especially in wooded, bushy areas. Lone star ticks are known for transmitting diseases such as Ehrlichiosis and Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI). In addition to their competence for pathogen transmission, Amblyomma Americanum (A. Americanum) has recently been associated with delayed red meat allergy (7). 

American Dog Tick 

American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis): This tick prefers grassy areas with little to no tree cover. It primarily targets dogs but will bite humans and can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Tularemia. 

Black-legged Tick 

Black-legged Tick (Ixodes scapularis): This tick, also called the deer tick, is prevalent in the eastern and northern parts of Texas. It is known for transmitting Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Babesiosis to humans. The black-legged tick prefers wooded and brushy habitats. 

Brown Dog Tick 

Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus): Unlike other ticks, the brown dog tick is more adapted to drier environments and can live and reproduce indoors. 

 Image 1. Common Ticks in Texas (3) 

Tick-Borne Diseases in Texas 

Ticks are vectors for a wide array of bacterial, protozoan, and viral pathogens that cause diseases such as Lyme borreliosis, spotted fever rickettsioses, anaplasmosis, tularemia, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis, as well as the recently emerging viruses Heartland (HRTV), Powassan (POWV), and Bourbon (BRBV).  

Unfortunately, these vectors are found in many geographic areas of Texas and are steadily increasing in prevalence. Cases of tick-borne diseases have more than doubled in the last decade in the United States and territories and account for 77% of all vector-borne disease reports (7).  

Lyme Disease  

Lyme disease (LD) is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and rarely, Borrelia mayonii. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks. Lyme disease is the most frequently diagnosed tick-borne illness in the United States. However, it oddly has a low incidence in Texas.  

The incubation period is 3–30 days (5). Research shows the probability of host infection gradually increases as tick attachment continues, reaching 70% after 72 hours of attachment and a greater than 90% probability of infection after a complete tick blood meal (13).  

Clinically, B. mayonii-infected patients show higher loads of spirochetes in the blood, and some have had focal or diffuse rash or developed neurological symptoms. 

Significant research explores and combats this bacterium’s ability to avoid immune detection and response. Similar to other blood-borne pathogens, LD spirochetes have developed multiple strategies to overcome innate immunity, thereby avoiding clearance by the host’s immune system by changing their surface composition (13). This action makes it difficult for the immune system to create antibodies against it.  

Early clinical signs and symptoms (3 to 30 days after a tick bite) include (5):  

• Erythema migrans (EM)— This is a worrisome “target” or “bull’s-eye” rash. It is a red annular or homogeneous rash at the site of a tick bite. The rash typically expands slowly over several days and may feel warm to the touch (5). EM occurs in 70–80% of infected individuals (5) [See image 2]. 
• Headache 
• Fever 
• Chills 
• Malaise or fatigue, myalgia, arthralgia, § Lymphadenopathy 

Lyme disease that is not treated will progress to disseminated disease in about 60% of patients with varied manifestations (5). Rheumatologic signs and symptoms are particularly delayed and can cause severe damage to the joints, heart, and nervous system (5).  

 Image 2. Class Erythemia migrans rash (5) 

Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis  

Anaplasmosis, or human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), is a disease caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum (A. Phagocytophilum). These bacteria are spread to people by tick bites, primarily from the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and the western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus). The first case of human anaplasmosis was described in 1990 when a patient in Wisconsin developed a severe febrile illness following a tick bite and died two weeks later (6). 

Anaplasma organisms are small, gram-negative, and intracellular. A. phagocytophilum targets neutrophils, alters their function in the host, and forms morulae within vacuoles. Most of the damage it causes is thought to be related to host inflammatory processes. Since Ixodes ticks are also carriers for Lyme disease, babesiosis, and tick-borne encephalitis, coinfection with multiple diseases can occur in humans. 

Ehrlichiosis, known as Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (HME), is similar to anaplasmosis in molecular structure but is less commonly found than anaplasmosis.  

The median age of patients with anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis is around 50 years (6).  

Doxycycline is the drug of choice for adults and children of all ages with anaplasmosis (5). 

Clinical signs and symptoms of anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis are nonspecific and typically include: 

• Fever 
• Headache 
• Muscle aches 
• Fatigue 

Spotted Fever Group Rickettsioses  

Spotted fever group rickettsioses (spotted fevers) are a group of diseases caused by similarly structured bacteria. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is within this group of diseases and is considered the most serious and most commonly reported spotted fever group rickettsiosis in the United States (5). These bacteria are spread to people through the bite of infected mites and ticks. The ticks responsible are typically the American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis), the Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni), and the brown dog ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) (5). 

Spotted fevers have a wide range of signs and symptoms, including (5): 

• Eschar – dark scab at the site of the tick bite 
• Fever 
• Headache 
• Rash 

Doxycycline is the treatment of choice for all spotted fever infections (5). 

Tick-borne Relapsing Fever 

Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is an infection caused by certain species of Borrelia bacteria. Relapsing fever Borrelia infections are categorized into three main groups based on the vector that transmits the bacteria: soft ticks, hard ticks, and body lice. These diseases differ in their epidemiology and severity.  

TBRF is uniquely caused by soft ticks, instead of hard ticks (like the other diseases). Soft ticks are generally found in animal burrows, dens, caves, or human dwellings such as huts, cabins, or sheds. The disease is often linked to someone who has recently slept in a rustic cabin in the mountains. Soft ticks have a wrinkled body appearance and do not latch as long as hard ticks (5). 

The main symptoms of TBRF are: 

• High fever (e.g., 103°F) 
• Headache 
• Muscle and joint aches.  

The fever follows a unique pattern: it lasts roughly 2-7 days, followed by 4-14 days without fever, followed by another 3 days of fever. Without antibiotic treatment, this process can repeat several times. 

Babesiosis 

Babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne disease caused by parasites of the genus Babesia (9). This disease has an increasing incidence worldwide and a risk of human-to-human transmission through blood transfusion.  

The majority of those infected by babesiosis remain asymptomatic or present with mild flu-like symptoms (9). However, in susceptible populations, such as the elderly or immunocompromised individuals, symptoms can include severe anemia, acute respiratory distress, organ failure, and death (9). 

Tularemia 

Tularemia is caused by infection with the bacterium  Francisella tularensis. Transmission routes include tick bite, deer fly bite, inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact with infected animals (4). Signs and symptoms of tularemia can vary widely depending on the route of exposure and subtype of F. tularensis. Tularemia can become serious or fatal without adequate treatment.  

Possible signs and symptoms include (4): 

• Fever, chills 
• Headache 
• Malaise, fatigue 
• Anorexia 
• Myalgia 
• Chest discomfort 
• Non-productive cough 
• Sore throat 
• Vomiting, diarrhea 
• Abdominal pain 
• Localized or regional lymphadenopathy 
• Cutaneous ulcer at the site of bite/infection  
• Photophobia 
• Vision impairment/loss 
• Conjunctivitis 

General laboratory findings: 

• Hyponatremia 
• Leukocytosis 
• Thrombocytopenia 
• Elevated hepatic transaminases 
• Elevated creatine kinase 
• Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate 
• Myoglobinuria 
• Sterile pyuria 

Viral Pathogens: Heartland (HRTV), Powassan (POWV), and Bourbon (BRBV) 

Arboviral disease is a broad term used to describe infections caused by a group of viruses spread by the bite of infected arthropods (insects) such as mosquitoes and ticks (15). These include Heartland (HRTV), Powassan (POWV), and Bourbon (BRBV). Other diseases spread by the bite of an infected tick are bacterial infections and babesiosis (a parasitic infection), which are not arboviruses. It is important to note that if a highly suspected infected individual (positive for symptoms and a tick bite) does not improve symptoms following an antibiotic regimen, a viral pathogen from a tick may be the culprit.

Removal of Ticks

Imagine you are evaluating a patient who has not removed a tick attached to their skin. You must quickly, yet appropriately, remove it manually (unless your facility has another method). Other commercially available tick-removal devices are available, but no substantial studies have evaluated their usefulness. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides the following steps as a guide on how to remove a tick manually: 

1. Apply gloves and clean the area well. 
2. Use blunt forceps (tweezers). Do not use sharp forceps.  
3. Grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible, and pull upward with steady, even pressure.  
   1. Do not squeeze or puncture the tick’s body. 
   2. Do not twist or jerk the tick (this can cause the mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin) 
   3. If the mouthparts remain on the skin after removal, grasp and pull with tweezers.  
4. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite with an antiseptic solution.

Medications Used to Treat Tick-Borne Diseases 

Treating tick-borne diseases often involves antibiotics, with the choice of medication depending on the disease diagnosed. It would be helpful to consult an infectious disease specialist about individual patient treatment plans, as the particular duration of treatment can vary based on each disease, the severity of symptoms, and personal patient traits.  

Here’s a brief overview of treatments for some of the most common tick-borne diseases: 

Lyme Disease 

The first-line treatment for Lyme disease typically involves oral antibiotics, with doxycycline, amoxicillin, and cefuroxime axetil most commonly prescribed. In cases of more severe Lyme disease, intravenous antibiotics, such as ceftriaxone, may be used. Depending on a person’s age, medical history, underlying health conditions, pregnancy status, or allergies, these regimens may need to be adjusted. The table below outlines treatment regimens for the erythema migrans rash, the most common manifestation of early Lyme disease. 

Table 1. Treatment Regimen for Erythema Migrans Rash (5) 

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) 

Doxycycline is the treatment of choice for RMSF for both adults and children. Early treatment is critical to prevent severe disease complications. 

Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis 

Doxycycline is also the preferred treatment for ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis, regardless of the patient’s age. 

Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI) 

Although the cause of STARI is not well understood, doxycycline, similar to the treatment for Lyme disease, may be used to treat the rash and possible infection. 

Babesiosis 

This disease is typically treated with a combination of atovaquone and azithromycin. In more severe cases, clindamycin and quinine may be used instead. 

Tularemia 

Treatment can include several different antibiotics, such as gentamicin, streptomycin, doxycycline, or ciprofloxacin (4). The table below outlines treatment regimens for Tularemia.  

Table 2. Treatment Regimen for Tularemia (4) 

Antibiotics that Inhibit Protein Synthesis 

When treatment is initiated for patients with tick-borne diseases, the prescriber needs to understand the pharmacokinetics of antibiotics that inhibit protein synthesis and biochemistry. Examples of these antibiotics include tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, macrolides, lincosamides, streptogramins, oxazolidinones, mupirocins, and peptide deformylase inhibitors (1). Knowledge of the mechanisms of antibiotics’ action in interfering with the life cycle of these bacteria is critical in evaluating patient outcomes. 

Protein synthesis is an essential process in all cells, including bacterial cells. The ribosome synthesizes protein by translating the genetic information encoded in messenger RNAs (mRNAs) into proteins. The bacterial ribosome comprises three RNA chains (16S, 23S, and 5S) and more than 50 proteins assembled into two subunits. These include the small 30S and large 50S subunits, which join together to form the 70S ribosome. Many protein factors must interact sequentially with the ribosome to proceed efficiently and translate the information.  

Remember this process as we discuss antibiotic drugs in effectively treating tick-borne diseases. 

Doxycycline 

Pharmacologic Category 

Antibiotic, Tetracycline Derivative 

Uses: Labeled Indications 

• Acne 
• Actinomycosis 
• Acute intestinal amebiasis 
• Clostridium: Treatment of infections caused by Clostridium spp. When penicillin is contraindicated. 
• Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis 
• Gram-negative infections: Treatment of infections caused by Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Shigella spp., Acinetobacter spp., Klebsiella spp. (respiratory and urinary infections), and Bacteroides spp.; Neisseria meningitidis (when penicillin is contraindicated). 
• Gram-positive infections: Treatment of infections caused by Streptococcus spp., when susceptible. 
• Listeriosis 
• Malaria prophylaxis 
• Mycoplasma pneumoniae: Treatment of infections caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. 
• Ophthalmic infections 
• Periodontitis  
• Relapsing fever: Treatment of relapsing fever caused by Borrelia recurrentis. 
• Respiratory tract infections 
• Rickettsial infections: Treatment of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, rickettsialpox, and tick fevers caused by Rickettsiae. 
• Sexually transmitted infections  
• Infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (doxycycline is not the drug of choice in treating any staphylococcal infection). 

Mechanism of Action 

All tetracyclines have the exact mechanism of action to block the protein synthesis of bacteria.  

Tetracyclines inhibit protein synthesis by binding to the 30S subunit of the ribosome (1). Essentially, the drug inhibits the binding of amino-acyl tRNA to the A-site of the ribosome. The 7S ribosomal protein is part of the binding site. Tigecycline also binds at the A-site of the 30S subunit of the ribosome and inhibits bacterial protein synthesis.  

Tetracyclines can bind equally well to prokaryotic (70S) and eukaryotic (80S) ribosomes. Eukaryotic cells are not affected by the antibiotic because they do not accumulate tetracycline in the cell. This makes tetracyclines selective against bacteria. Tetracyclines may also cause alterations in the cytoplasmic membrane (1). 

Pharmacodynamics 

Absorption: (Oral) Almost completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract (GI) tract; average peak plasma concentration may be reduced by a high-fat meal or milk (16). 

Distribution: Widely distributed into body tissues and fluids, including synovial, pleural, prostatic, seminal, and bronchial secretions. Saliva and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) penetration is poor. 

Protein binding: >90% 

Bioavailability: Reduced at high pH; may be clinically significant in patients with gastrectomy, gastric bypass surgery, or otherwise deemed achlorhydric. 

Metabolism and Excretion: Not hepatic; partially inactivated in the GI tract by chelate formation. 20-40% excreted unchanged in the urine; some inactivation in the intestines and enterohepatic circulation with excretion in bile and feces. 

Half-life: 14-17 hours (more extended time frame in severe renal impairment) 

 Figure 1. Pharmacodynamics of Doxycycline 

Adverse Effects 

1% to 10% have reported the following (16): 

• Cardiovascular: Hypertension (3%) 
• Central nervous system: Anxiety (2%), pain (2%) 
• Endocrine & metabolic: Increased lactate dehydrogenase (2%), increased serum glucose (1%) 
• Gastrointestinal: Diarrhea (5%), upper abdominal pain (2%), abdominal distention (1%), abdominal pain (1%), xerostomia (1%) 
• Hepatic: Increased serum aspartate aminotransferase (2%) 
• Infection: Fungal infection (2%), influenza (2%) 
• Neuromuscular & skeletal: Back pain (1%) 
• Respiratory: Nasopharyngitis (5%), sinusitis (3%), nasal congestion (2%) 

Contraindications/Precautions 

Hypersensitivity to doxycycline, other tetracyclines, or any component of the formulation. Contraindicated in infants and children younger than eight years of age, during the second or third trimester of pregnancy, and breastfeeding (16). 

Patient Education 

• Instruct the patient to finish the entire dose as directed, even if feeling better, and take missed doses as soon as possible unless it is almost time for the next dose. 
• Advise the patient to avoid taking antacids, calcium—and magnesium-containing medications, sodium bicarbonate, and iron supplements within 1-3 hours of oral doxycycline. 
• Caution the patient to use sunscreen and protective clothing to prevent photosensitivity reactions. 
• Advise patient to report signs of superinfection (black, furry overgrowth on the tongue, vaginal itching, discharge, watery or foul-smelling stools) or intracranial hypertension (headache, blurred vision, diplopia).

Aminoglycosides 

Aminoglycosides include streptomycin, neomycin, kanamycin, amikacin, gentamicin, tobramycin, sisomicin, netilmicin, plazomicin, and others (2). Gentamicin and streptomycin are recommended to treat tularemia, so we will closely examine this group.  

ALERT: US Boxed Warning for Aminoglycosides 

Toxicity (17): 

As with other aminoglycosides, gentamicin is potentially nephrotoxic. The risk is greater with impaired renal function and prolonged therapy. Neurotoxicity, manifested by ototoxicity (both vestibular and auditory), can occur in patients treated with gentamicin.  

Clinicians should closely monitor renal and eighth cranial nerve function, especially in patients with reduced renal function at the onset of therapy. Assess urine for decreased specific gravity, increased protein excretion, and the presence of cells or casts (17). Routinely check serum urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, or creatinine clearance (CrCl). Monitor serum concentrations of aminoglycosides to ensure adequate levels and avoid potentially toxic ones.  

Avoid concurrent use of other potentially neurotoxic and/or nephrotoxic drugs: cisplatin, cephaloridine, kanamycin, amikacin, neomycin, polymyxin B, colistin, paromomycin, streptomycin, tobramycin, vancomycin, and viomycin (2). Avoid the concurrent use of gentamicin with potent diuretics. 

Pregnancy 

Aminoglycosides can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. 

Gentamicin  

Pharmacologic Category 

Antibiotic, Aminoglycoside 

Uses 

Treatment of serious infections: Sepsis, meningitis, urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections, peritonitis, bone infections, skin, and soft tissue infections, caused by susceptible strains of the following microorganisms: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus species, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, Enterobacter species, Serratia species, Citrobacter species (2). 

Mechanism of Action 

As with all aminoglycosides, gentamicin interferes with ribosomal peptide/protein synthesis (14). It binds to 16S rRNA (located on the more minor 30S component of the ribosome of the bacteria), stops its functionality, and halts ongoing protein synthesis (14). Aminoglycosides cannot penetrate the hydrophobic bacterial cell membrane and are only active against aerobic bacteria. An electron transport system used during the cell’s respiratory cycle is needed to accomplish this (2). 

Pharmacodynamics/Kinetics 

Absorption: Intramuscular: Rapid and complete 

Oral: Poorly absorbed  

Distribution: Primarily into extracellular fluid (highly hydrophilic); high concentration in the renal cortex. 

Protein binding: <30% 

Half-life elimination: 

• Adults: ~2 hours 
• Neonates: <1 week: 3 to 11.5 hours; 1 week to 1 month: 3 to 6 hours 
• Infants: 4 ± 1 hour 
• Children: 2 ± 1 hour 

Time to peak, serum:  

• IM: 30 to 90 minutes 
• IV: 30 minutes after a 30-minute infusion  

Excretion: Urine  

Clearance: Directly related to renal function 

• Neonates: 0.045 ± 0.01 L/hour/kg 
• Infants: 0.1 ± 0.05 L/hour/kg 
• Children: 0.1 ± 0.03 L/hour/kg 
• Adolescents: 0.09 ± 0.03 L/hour/kg 

Adverse Effects 

Some adverse effects include (17): 

• Cardiovascular: Edema, hypertension, hypotension, phlebitis, thrombophlebitis 
• Central nervous system: Abnormal gait, ataxia, brain disease, confusion, depression, dizziness, drowsiness 
• Dermatologic: Alopecia, erythema, pruritus, skin rash, urticaria 
• Endocrine & metabolic: Hypocalcemia, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, hyponatremia, weight loss 
• Gastrointestinal: Anorexia, Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea, decreased appetite, enterocolitis, nausea, sialorrhea, stomatitis, vomiting 
• Genitourinary: Casts in urine (hyaline, granular), oliguria, proteinuria 
• Hematologic & oncologic: Agranulocytosis, anemia, thrombocytopenia 
• Hepatic: Hepatomegaly, increased liver enzymes 
• Hypersensitivity: Anaphylaxis, anaphylactoid reaction, hypersensitivity reaction 
• Local: Injection site reaction, pain at injection site 
• Neuromuscular & skeletal: Arthralgia, muscle cramps, muscle fatigue, weakness 
• Ophthalmic: Visual disturbance 
• Otic: Auditory impairment, tinnitus 
• Renal: Decreased creatinine clearance, decreased urine specific gravity, increased blood urea nitrogen, increased serum creatinine, polyuria, renal failure (high trough serum concentrations), renal tubular necrosis 
• Respiratory: Dyspnea, laryngeal edema, pulmonary fibrosis, respiratory depression 
• Miscellaneous: Fever 

Streptomycin 

Pharmacologic Category 

Antibiotic, Aminoglycoside 

Uses 

Primarily used for treating aerobic gram-negative bacterial infections, such as tularemia, brucellosis, tuberculosis (in combination with isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and rifampin), and some instances of endocarditis when combined with beta-lactam antibiotics (14).  

Mechanism of Action 

It interferes with bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit, resulting in a defective bacterial cell membrane (2). These actions inhibit the bacteria from creating the needed ongoing protein synthesis. 

Pharmacodynamics/Kinetics 

Absorption:  

• Oral: Poorly absorbed 
• IM: Well-absorbed 

Distribution: Distributed into most body tissues and fluids except the brain; small amounts enter the CSF only with inflamed meninges. 

Protein binding: 34% 

Half-life elimination:  

• Newborns: 4 to 10 hours 
• Adults: 2 to 4.7 hours (prolonged with renal impairment) 

Time to peak: IM: Within 1 to 2 hours 

Excretion: Urine (29% to 89% as unchanged drug); a small amount (1%) is excreted in bile, saliva, sweat, and tears (18) 

Adverse Reactions 

Adverse reactions include (18): 

• Cardiovascular: Hypotension 
• Central nervous system: Drug fever, facial paresthesia, headache, neurotoxicity 
• Dermatologic: Exfoliative dermatitis, skin rash, urticaria 
• Gastrointestinal: Nausea, vomiting 
• Genitourinary: Azotemia, nephrotoxicity 
• Hematologic & oncologic: Eosinophilia, hemolytic anemia, leukopenia, pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia 
• Hypersensitivity: Anaphylaxis, angioedema 
• Neuromuscular & skeletal: Arthralgia, tremor, weakness 
• Ophthalmic: Amblyopia 
• Otic: Auditory ototoxicity, vestibular ototoxicity 
• Respiratory: Dyspnea 

Compound Use of Atovaquone and Azithromycin for Babesiosis 

The current arsenal for the treatment of human babesiosis includes atovaquone, azithromycin, clindamycin, and quinine. The first-line compound typically used is atovaquone and azithromycin. Atovaquone is used to treat several human diseases, including Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, toxoplasmosis, and malaria. In apicomplexan parasites such as the genus Babesia, atovaquone targets the cytochrome bc1 complex of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (9). Azithromycin is a relatively broad-spectrum antibiotic indicated for the treatment of numerous bacterial infections; it is a well-characterized protein synthesis inhibitor, which in apicomplexan parasites targets the translation machinery in the apicoplast (9). 

Tick Testing  

The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) Tick-Borne Disease Research Laboratory have teamed up to test ticks for disease agents in the Borrelia, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia genera using molecular methods (11).  

Ticks should be submitted to the DSHS Zoonosis Control office for identification, after which they will be forwarded to UNTHSC for testing (11). There is no charge for testing. However, this service is available only to Texas residents submitting ticks found at a location within Texas. Only ticks attached to a human should be submitted (11).  

For free testing of ticks found in the environment or on pets, visit the Texas Tick Project. The program is designed for tick surveillance, not disease diagnosis. If infected with a tick-borne pathogen, individuals usually develop symptoms before the test results are available.

Prevention and Control 

It is meaningful to teach prevention tips if you notice a patient at high risk of encountering a tick outdoors. This includes patients who enjoy hobbies outdoors (such as hiking) or whose job duties involve spending a significant amount of time outdoors.  

Prevention teaching: 

• Always inspect yourself, family members, and pets from head to toe for ticks after spending time outdoors. 
• Keep grass trimmed and remove overgrowth. 
• Remove bird feeders and other food sources that attract wildlife, such as deer, that can carry ticks. 
• Discuss tick and flea prevention methods with your veterinarian if you have pets. 
• Move picnic tables, swing sets, and outdoor lawn furniture away from trees and shrubs. 

Upcoming Research 

Significant research studies are being conducted on treating and preventing tick-borne diseases. However, there is a need to prevent tick bites from spreading. One interesting study explores the prevalence of common tick-borne pathogens in white-tailed deer and coyotes in South Texas (19). Identifying vehicles (various wildlife) that carry these tiny ticks over long distances can help researchers treat wildlife for ticks and ultimately slow the spread. Upcoming research relies on effective collaboration between medical professionals, wildlife and ecological professionals, researchers, and policymakers. 

The current evidence on babesiosis is not comprehensive, and treatment consists of combinations of atovaquone and azithromycin or clindamycin and quinine (9). These drug compounds are associated with mild or severe adverse events and a rapid emergence of drug resistance, thus highlighting the need for new treatment therapies to combat Babesia parasites.

Conclusion

Ticks aren’t just annoying—they’re also a source of serious illnesses. As tickborne diseases become more common, healthcare professionals should be alert to the possibility of these diseases in patients with flu-like symptoms in the spring and summer, especially in areas rich in wildlife, such as Texas.

This course provided information on prevalent ticks, the illnesses they transmit, and the symptoms, progression, and medications used to treat each pathogen. The pharmacokinetics, adverse effects, and uses are meaningful components of treating patients who are infected with a tick-borne disease.