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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 61% of tick tested are infected with at least one disease causing organism, 40% are co-infected with two or more, 15% carry three or more, and 5% of the ticks tested carry four or more.

Infection Visualization by Tick Species

All Ticks Tested
61% Positive for Infection
Negative (39%)
Ixodes scapularis (deer tick)
32% Positive for Infection
Negative (68%)
Amblyomma americanum (lone star tick)
18% Positive for Infection
Negative (82%)
Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick)
7% Positive for Infection
Negative (93%)

Coinfection Visualization

4+ Coinfection (5%)
3+ Coinfection (15%)
2+ Coinfection (40%)
No Co-infection (60%)

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 1,054 ticks.
24% Positive
76% Negative

Adult Female Deer Ticks

Sample size of 2,114 ticks.
38% Positive
62% Negative

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

Nymphal Deer Ticks

Sample size of 733 ticks.
10% Positive
90% Negative

Adult Female Deer Ticks

Sample size of 1,706 ticks.
13% Positive
87% Negative

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

Nymphal Deer Ticks

Sample size of 237 ticks.
46% Positive
54% Negative

Adult Female Deer Ticks

Sample size of 70 ticks.
51% Positive
49% Negative

Pathogenic Prevalence in Michigan

The bars below show the positive/negative prevalence ratio of selected pathogens we test for. These pathogens were observed in ticks from Michigan. Data set includes tests performed since TickCheck's founding in 2014 and is updated in real time.

Borrelia burgdorferi (deer tick) associated with Lyme disease

Sample size of 39 ticks. Warning: Low Sample Size
23% Positive
77% Negative

Borrelia burgdorferi (American dog tick) associated with Lyme disease

Sample size of 35 ticks. Warning: Low Sample Size
0% Positive
100% Negative

Anaplasma phagocytophilum associated with anaplasmosis

Sample size of 43 ticks. Warning: Low Sample Size
5% Positive
95% Negative

Babesia microti associated with babesiosis

Sample size of 30 ticks. Warning: Low Sample Size
0% Positive
100% Negative

Ehrlichia chaffeensis associated with ehrlichiosis

Sample size of 30 ticks. Warning: Low Sample Size
0% Positive
100% Negative

Rickettsia spp. associated with Rocky Mountain spotted fever

Sample size of 28 ticks. Warning: Low Sample Size
11% Positive
89% Negative
Pathogen and co-infected tick prevalence data is © TickCheck, and is derived from our tick testing results and laboratory research.