Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Tick-Borne Diseases in North-Central Wisconsin from 2000–2016

Abstract

Lyme disease is a well-recognized public health problem in the USA, however, other tick-borne diseases also have major public health impacts. Yet, limited research has evaluated changes in the spatial and temporal patterns of non-Lyme tick-borne diseases within endemic regions. Using laboratory data from a large healthcare system in north-central Wisconsin from 2000–2016, we applied a Kulldorf’s scan statistic to analyze spatial, temporal and seasonal clusters of laboratory-positive cases of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis at the county level. Older males were identified as the subpopulation at greatest risk for non-Lyme tick-borne diseases and we observed a statistically significant spatial and temporal clustering of cases (p < 0.05). HGA risk shifted from west to east over time (2000–2016) with a relative risk (RR) ranging from 3.30 to 11.85, whereas babesiosis risk shifted from south to north and west over time (2004–2016) with an RR ranging from 4.33 to 4.81. Our study highlights the occurrence of non-Lyme tick-borne diseases, and identifies at-risk subpopulations and shifting spatial and temporal heterogeneities in disease risk. Our findings can be used by healthcare providers and public health practitioners to increase public awareness and improve case detection.

40-year-old Male with a Headache and Altered Mental Status

“…The peak transmission of Ehrlichia occurs in summer and peaks in June and July. 12 Ehrlichiosis is overwhelmingly transmitted through tick bites, but the disease has been transmitted through blood transfusion, kidney transplantation, and direct contact with a slaughtered deer. 13 The signs and symptoms of ehrlichiosis typically occur within 5-14 days after the bite of an infected tick.…”

Spatiotemporal characteristics analysis and potential distribution prediction of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in China from 2007–2018

“…(6) Spatiotemporal cluster analysis Spatiotemporal cluster analysis was applied to the analysis of disease distribution and transmission (Hailu et al, 2020;Rau et al, 2020).…”

“…Spatiotemporal cluster analysis was applied to the analysis of disease distribution and transmission (Hailu et al., 2020; Rau et al., 2020). In this study, spatiotemporal cluster analysis was used to determine whether regions and periods showed significant clustering of PPR outbreaks.…”

Tick-borne Diseases, Transmission, Host Immune Responses, Diagnosis and Control

“…Lyme disease is treated by vaccination of healthcare providers and public health practitioners. It also needs public awareness and tick control [72] (Figure 2).…”

“…Some patients also show neuro-meningeal complications and severe neurological lesions [75] . At earlier satge diagnosis remains difficult because of nonspecific symptoms [76] in endemic areas [72] . Borrelia causes Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF), it is transmitted spread by Ornithodoros tick vectors [77] .…”