What to know about tick-borne diseases, and how the Buckeye Tick Test helps

So, a tick has bitten you – or maybe your child or partner.

Removing it properly matters, and so does knowing what symptoms to look for. Here’s everything to know about prevention, treatment, the state of disease transmission in Ohio and tick testing to better know your risks.

What Ohioans should know about Lyme disease

Lyme disease is carried by blacklegged ticks, also called deer ticks.

Ohioans don’t need to panic, but the risk of Lyme disease in our state right now is real. Blacklegged ticks are present in all 88 Ohio counties, with some areas comparable to long-endemic regions like Connecticut.

In 2025, Ohio reported 2,647 confirmed human Lyme disease cases. That’s more than 60 times the 2010 total, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

Ohio State research found that as many as 47% of blacklegged ticks sampled in some areas of Ohio carry Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.

How to protect your family and pets from tick-borne illness

Ticks aren’t just a risk while hiking or hunting – gardening, walking a dog and even just sitting outside carry a risk of exposure.

Preventing tick bites is pretty straightforward. Just follow these steps:

• When you’re at risk of tick exposure, wear long pants tucked into socks, and shirts tucked into pants.
• Use repellent on exposed skin. There are many effective options, including plant-based products. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides guidance on finding a repellent that’s right for you.
• Consider permethrin-treated clothing for added protection (but use permethrin only on clothing, not directly on skin).
• Check for ticks after your time outdoors, and shower as soon as possible.

Protecting pets from ticks can reduce your exposure, too. Check your pet regularly for ticks, and talk with your veterinarian about the best products for your pet.

Who’s most at risk for tick-borne illness

Although people of all ages are at risk, children (ages 5 to 14) experience the highest incidence of Lyme disease.

Dogs are commonly at risk, too. In Ohio studies, about 1 in 4 shelter dogs was exposed to at least one tick-borne pathogen.

Ticks carry more than just Lyme disease

While Lyme disease is dominating the case counts of tick-borne illness, other diseases from ticks are becoming more common. The Ohio Department of Health has reported more cases of:

• Alpha-gal syndrome: the “red meat allergy” from the lone star tick
• Anaplasmosis: a disease causing fever, headache, chills, muscle aches and more, carried mostly by blacklegged ticks, or deer ticks
• Babesiosis: a malaria-like disease also carried by blacklegged ticks
• Ehrlichiosis: an illness causing flu-like symptoms, spread mostly by lone star ticks

Ohio is also continuing to see cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. It can cause fever, headache and other symptoms, including a telltale rash that can appear later than other symptoms.

Asian longhorned ticks, an invasive species in Ohio, have been detected in 28 of the state’s counties, and they can pose additional risks – especially to livestock – by transmitting pathogens like Theileria orientalis.

What if tick-borne diseases aren’t diagnosed and treated early enough?

Without treatment, these illnesses can progress to severe illness, complications and even death without proper treatment.

For Lyme disease in humans, early antibiotic treatment is highly effective. But, once the bacteria disseminates throughout the body, diagnosis can become more complex.

Untreated Lyme disease can lead to long-term complications, including…

• neurologic effects (facial paralysis, nerve pain, memory issues)
• cardiac issues (Lyme carditis, heart rhythm disturbances)
• chronic joint inflammation and arthritis, especially in the knees

What to do immediately after finding a tick on

1. If the tick is on you but hasn’t bitten you, simply pick it off quickly to prevent it from biting you.
2. If it has bitten you and is attached to your skin, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Grab its head, not its body. Pull straight out – not at an angle – with steady, even pressure. This can prevent its mouthparts from being left in your skin.
3. Clean the bite area with soap and water or with rubbing alcohol.
4. Save the tick in a sealed container, preferably in the freezer or in rubbing alcohol. Certain agencies, such as Ohio State University Extension offices and some local health departments, can be helpful in identifying ticks and deciding whether you should submit the tick for testing. The Ohio State University Infectious Diseases Institute’s Buckeye Tick Test can provide identification and pathogen testing through a fee-based service (more on this service below).
5. If you or a pet are experiencing symptoms, prioritize seeing a doctor or veterinarian. This is especially true if the tick had been attached for at least 36 hours and was engorged, and if a pet is lethargic, lame or feverish. Healthcare providers can make decisions about treatment without seeing the tick or waiting for tick test results.

Symptoms of tick-borne disease

In humans, symptoms can begin between three and 60 days after a tick bite. Watch for:

• fever
• chills
• headache
• joint pain
• muscle aches
• fatigue
• rash near the bite location

In animals, symptoms can take weeks to months to develop – or may not appear at all. Those symptoms could include:

• loss of appetite
• stiffness
• swollen joints
• diarrhea or vomiting
• lethargy
• lameness

What else to tell your doctor or veterinarian

If you’re worried about tick-borne illness, be sure to mention these items:

• physical symptoms
• where the tick might have been picked up
• medications that could change the immune system’s function, such as steroids or chemotherapy
• medical conditions that could increase the risk of complications of infection (e.g., diabetes, HIV)

The Buckeye Tick Test and how it works

Launched in 2025, Ohio State’s Buckeye Tick Test lets Ohioans submit ticks for identification and pathogen testing, with results in as little as 72 hours. It can help you know whether the tick poses a risk of disease transmission.

The testing panel for each tick is specific to its species and uses highly distinctive targets in its panels, providing more precise results for you, your healthcare provider and the health department.

For a $49.99 fee, you receive research-grade results you can rely on. Meanwhile, the Buckeye Tick Test shares data with the Ohio Department of Health and federal partners, helping them record the prevalence of tick-borne disease in certain regions and prepare for any increases in illness.

It’s important to know that there are some rare situations for which sending a test to the Buckeye Tick Test isn’t worthwhile; for example, ticks collected outside of the U.S. might not be covered by available testing panels, so results may not be as precise.

And tick testing should never delay or guide treatment decisions alone – anyone who develops symptoms should seek care immediately.