Got a tick? Marshfield Clinic wants it for a study | Paul A. Smith

Alex Linz holds a doctorate in microbiology and specializes in endemic diseases in her job as staff scientist at the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute in central Wisconsin. The work is influenced by the seasons, for example with respiratory illnesses assuming more focus in winter. But another family of diseases has been occupying a large and growing portion of her and her colleagues time.

For those of us who spend time outdoors, it's summarized by the name of a tiny animal that is literally and figuratively a four-letter word: tick. More: Outdoors calendar I endeavor to be a tolerant and optimistic person and try to find value in all things. But if ticks were wiped off the face of the Earth, I'd be happy.

As you likely know, ticks feed by attaching themselves to humans and other warm-blooded animals. In the process, they can pass diseases to their hosts. Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease.

And there are others, including anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis. All are found in Wisconsin. To help study ticks and tick-borne diseases in Wisconsin, in 2024 the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute launched the Tick Inventory via Citizen Science.

The project is an effort to identify tick species and tick-borne diseases found in the state. It is funded by philanthropic contributions, Linz said. It works like this: The institute provides a free tick kit to anyone who wants to participate.

If a person finds a tick on themselves, their gear or their pet, they collect it, put it in the kit and send it to the clinic in a pre-paid mailer. Linz and the staff at the institute take it from there. The information can be used to assess risk of encountering a tick-borne disease and to learn more about who is being exposed to and diagnosed with tick-borne diseases, according to the institute.

The good news is people have responded. "

We're blown away by the enthusiasm for the project," Linz said Through March 25, the project had received 11,856 ticks, according to data from the institute. Two species – the American dog tick, also commonly known as wood tick, and the deer tick, also known as blacklegged tick – dominated the submissions. Of those tested, 7,816 (66%) were American dog ticks and 3,713 (31%) were deer ticks.

The balance was 22 lone star ticks, 11 brown dog ticks (both less than 1%) and a smattering of samples that were unidentifiable or not ticks. All ticks should be taken seriously and, if attached to a person's skin, removed carefully. But the deer tick in Wisconsin carries the highest risk of disease transmission, including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis, according to the institute. "

The deer tick’s small size and greater likelihood of carrying illnesses like Lyme disease is what makes it critical to perform tick checks after spending time in wooded or brushy areas," Linz said. Symptoms of illnesses resulting from a tick bite can include rash, fever, joint pain and fatigue, according to Marshfield Clinic. People are advised to contact their medical provider if they have these symptoms.

The project has helped assess the species of ticks found in Wisconsin, too, with the research team finding some of the rarer species, such as the lone star tick, named for the Texas-shaped patch on its exoskeleton. "

Some of these ticks are typically found in warmer climates are now appearing in the Midwest," Linz said. "

The question is, are they breeding here or are they just catching a ride and we found it by chance?" To reduce the risk of tick bites, the Marshfield Clinic Health System recommends spraying insecticide such as permethrin on clothing, sleeping bags, and tent fabric; wearing long sleeves and long pants to cover skin; and checking for ticks after time spent outdoors. Linz said there are peaks of tick activity in Wisconsin in spring through early summer and again in fall.

But people should be alert for ticks in all seasons. This year the institute is offering a new plank to its tick research called the Lyme Experience Narrative Study, or TICS-LENS. It provides a means for people who have experienced Lyme or another tick-infection to tell their story. "

We had overwhelming support from people who are curious and invested in helping better identify the health threats associated with ticks," said Jennifer Meece, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute executive director. ”

We had many calls last year from people who told us about the impact tick-borne disease had on their lives." People can submit as much or as little as they'd like to share and responses can be anonymous. Be tick smart this year.

And if you're interested in helping the institute with research, request a kit. We're not likely to eliminate ticks. But in keeping with the glass-half-full mindset, we also don't know what scientific discoveries and medical advances are coming.

How to get and use a tick kit For more information, or to request a pre-paid collection kit, contact the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute at tics@marshfieldclinic.org or (7

15. 1
16. 389-7796, extension 164
17. 6
18. The institute encourages staff at nature centers or public parks to also request kits and have them available for their visitors. Kits from last year may still be used.

Once the tick, dead or alive, has been placed in the collection kit, drop it in the mail. Any tick found on people or pets is appreciated, according to the institute. Each kit comes with a unique identification number so information on the species of tick can be seen via the online dashboard.