Our Tick Testing Data

Each tick submitted for testing contributes to the research being conducted here at TickCheck. By keeping records of all the results generated, we have been able to gain valuable insights into disease prevalence and co-infection rates. The comprehensive testing panel has been especially helpful in contributing to this research by ensuring all diseases and coinfections are accounted for when examining a tick. Our current research shows that 45% of tick tested are infected with at least one pathogen, 33% are co-infected with two or more, 9% carry three or more, and 3% of the ticks tested carry four or more.

Infection Visualization by Tick Species

Coinfection Visualization

Pathogenic Prevalence by Species & Life Stage

Generally, nymphal ticks will have fewer pathogen because they've had fewer opportunities to feed. Our data shows this as well.

Infection Rate for Borrelia burgdorferi between Adult Female and Nymphal Deer Ticks

Nymphal Deer Ticks

Sample size of 3,058 ticks.

24% Positive

76% Negative

Adult Female Deer Ticks

Sample size of 6,966 ticks.

37% Positive

63% Negative

Infection Rate for Anaplasma phagocytophilum between Adult Female and Nymphal Deer Ticks

Nymphal Deer Ticks

Sample size of 2,736 ticks.

8% Positive

92% Negative

Adult Female Deer Ticks

Sample size of 6,563 ticks.

10% Positive

90% Negative

Infection Rate for Rickettsia amblyommii between Adult Female and Nymphal Lone Star Ticks

Nymphal Lone Star Ticks

Sample size of 819 ticks.

48% Positive

52% Negative

Adult Female Lone Star Ticks

Sample size of 264 ticks.

50% Positive

50% Negative

Pathogenic Prevalence in Kentucky

Borrelia burgdorferi (lone star tick) associated with Lyme disease

Sample size of 47 ticks. Warning: Low Sample Size

Anaplasma phagocytophilum associated with anaplasmosis

Sample size of 35 ticks. Warning: Low Sample Size

Ehrlichia chaffeensis associated with ehrlichiosis

Sample size of 64 ticks.

Rickettsia rickettsii associated with Rocky Mountain spotted fever

Sample size of 52 ticks.

Pathogen and co-infected tick prevalence data is © TickCheck, and is derived from our tick testing results and laboratory research.