Tick-Associated Infections FAQ
Below we have provided a response to frequently asked questions about tick-associated infections. For more comprehensive information, see our "Diseases" section. For animal infections, see our "Pet Problems" section.
Follow the question links below to go to specific answers, or go straight to the first question and answer.
- Do UK ticks carry disease?
- Do all ticks carry disease?
- How many diseases are carried by ticks?
- Can ticks carry more than one infection at a time?
- If a tick is carrying more than one infection, will I get them all?
- Are particular areas of the UK worse for contracting an infection?
- How do ticks transmit infection?
- Are there other ways to contract tick-borne infections?
- Can any tick-borne disease in the UK be fatal?
- What can I do to avoid contracting a tick-borne disease?
Q.1 - Do UK ticks carry disease?
A.1 - Yes. Many tick species in the UK carry disease. However, not every type of infective organism that is carried by them will cause illness in people or their pets.
Q.2 - Do all ticks carry disease?
A.2 - No. Not every tick carries infective organisms and not every bite will transmit an infection even if they are carrying infection. It is difficult to quantify the proportion of infected ticks as this can vary from area to area.
Q.3 - How many diseases are carried by ticks?
A.3 - There are lots of tick-borne disease throughout the world. In the UK there are several diseases carried by various tick species which can cause illness in farm livestock, domestic pets and people. Because there can be different strains of the same organism, the diseases that result from them may have different names depending on the type of host they have infected. There are four particular kinds of organisms that cause these different diseases; namely viral, bacterial, rickettsial and protozoal.
Q.4 - Can ticks carry more than one infection at a time?
A.4 - Yes. Ticks can carry a number of infective organisms concurrently. They ingest these organisms from the wildlife hosts that they feed on during their life cycle. Some organisms have the ability to be passed on from an adult female tick through her eggs to the next generation, and through each stage of the tick's life.
Q.5 - If a tick is carrying more than one infection, will I get them all?
A.5 - No, not necessarily. Whether you contract a disease can depend on how long a tick has been able to feed on your blood. The longer it stays attached, the more organisms can transfer into your blood stream. Therefore it is much safer to remove a tick as soon as you discover it, and to use safe tick-removal techniques. It can also depend on your body's immune response as to whether you become ill. Some infections cause little effect to their host, while others can cause symptoms. When several diseases are transmitted at the same time, the immune system has to work much harder and this can sometimes cause a patient to be more acutely ill. It can also make diagnosis difficult because some diseases have similar signs and symptoms.
Q.6 - Are particular areas of the UK worse for contracting an infection?
A.6 - Some areas of the UK are known as "hot spots". These include the New Forest, Exmoor, the South Downs, Thetford Forest, the Lake District, the North York Moors, and the highlands and islands of Scotland. However, there can be localised "hot spots" in many areas. Particular areas of land may be more suitable habitat for ticks than a neighbouring area and therefore there can be a larger population of ticks there. It is also worth remembering that anywhere that has a diverse population of wildlife and good vegetation cover will harbour a population of ticks, and a proportion of those ticks will carry disease. This can include city parks and gardens.
Q.7 - How do ticks transmit infection?
A.7 - Ticks ingest infective organisms from their wildlife hosts. These hosts act as a reservoir of disease and can transmit infection to hundreds of ticks that feed on them. These infected ticks than go on to seek another host and during the feeding process they transmit the infective organisms into the new host. The cycle continues, spreading infection far and wide as infected hosts travel to new areas. Infected birds can cross oceans, and they can also transport the ticks themselves to new areas.
Q.8 - Are there other ways to contract tick-borne infections?
A.8 - Yes. Some tick-borne infections have other ways in which they can be transmitted. Some can be inhaled in dust from dried faeces, or through milk, blood and birth fluids. Some can be transmitted through skin abrasions, or through the mucous membranes in the eyes, nose and mouth of a host. Some can be transmitted through contaminated medical instruments or in blood products for transfusion. When transmitted in other ways, these disease are no longer referred to as tick-borne.
Q.9 - Can any tick-borne disease in the UK be fatal?
A.9 - Yes. In rare cases fatalities may occur. This can arise from complications of the disease that affect the vital organs of the patient's body. Patients without a spleen are at significantly greater risk.
Q.10 - What can I do to avoid contracting a tick-borne disease?
A.10 - Simple precautions can be taken to avoid tick attachment. This includes wearing clothing to make it harder for ticks to make contact with your skin and wearing a repellent. Removing ticks safely can also help to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
