Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
10:17
Cities As Interfaces of Zoonotic Hazard Emergence: Development of the New York City Tick and Wildlife Urban Surveillance System
Published on: March 10, 2026
Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness in Pediatric Patient, New York, USA, 2025
Emerging Infectious Diseases
|July 24, 2026
Summary
Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI) is a tickborne disease. A child in New York developed STARI after an Amblyomma americanum tick bite, and Borrelia lonestari was detected in the tick.
Area of Science:
- * Infectious Diseases
- * Dermatology
- * Tick-borne Illnesses
Background:
- * Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI) presents as an erythema migrans-like rash.
- * The etiology of STARI remains largely unknown.
- * Amblyomma americanum ticks are implicated vectors in STARI pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To report a case of STARI in New York.
- * To investigate the potential role of Borrelia lonestari in STARI.
- * To document the detection of Borrelia lonestari in an Amblyomma americanum tick from a STARI patient.
Main Methods:
- * Clinical case reporting of a pediatric STARI patient.
- * Tick identification and pathogen detection.
- * Molecular analysis for Borrelia species identification.
Main Results:
- * A child in New York presented with STARI following an Amblyomma americanum tick bite.
- * Borrelia lonestari DNA was successfully detected in the implicated tick.
- * This finding supports the investigation of Borrelia lonestari as a potential cause of STARI.
Conclusions:
- * This case highlights the presence of Borrelia lonestari in ticks associated with STARI in New York.
- * Further research is warranted to confirm Borrelia lonestari as a causative agent of STARI.
- * Early diagnosis and management of STARI are crucial for patient outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a severe tick-borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a Gram-negative, coccobacillary bacterium. This pathogen is an obligate intracellular parasite, requiring a host cell for replication. Transmission occurs through the bite of an infected tick. In the United States, the most important vectors are Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), though other tick species may also serve as vectors.
01:28Rabies
Rabies is a lethal zoonotic disease caused by a single-stranded, negative-sense RNA virus of the Lyssavirus genus, within the family Rhabdoviridae. Its primary mode of transmission to humans is through bites or saliva-contaminated scratches from infected mammals such as dogs, bats, raccoons, or foxes. Transmission can also occur if infectious saliva contacts abraded skin or intact mucous membranes, including the conjunctiva.Viral Entry and Early ReplicationOnce introduced at the bite or scratch...
01:22American Trypanosomiasis
Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is a vector-borne parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a flagellated protozoan (kinetoplastid) of the family Trypanosomatidae. The disease is endemic in Latin America, although cases are increasingly reported worldwide due to human migration. Transmission most commonly occurs when feces of infected triatomine bugs contaminate bite wounds or mucosal surfaces; additional routes include congenital, transfusional, transplant-related, and oral...
01:24Smallpox
Smallpox is a severe contagious disease caused by the Variola major virus, a double-stranded DNA member of the Poxviridae family.Variola major transmission occurs primarily via inhalation of virus-laden droplets or direct contact with infectious scabs. The incubation period averages approximately seven days, although it may range from 7 to 17 days depending on the inoculum and host factors.Clinically, the prodromal phase is marked by an abrupt onset of high fever, malaise, headache, and myalgia.
01:29Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease
Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...
01:25Arboviral Encephalitis
Arboviral encephalitis refers to brain inflammation caused by arthropod-borne viruses, particularly those transmitted through mosquito vectors. Among these, West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is a significant public health concern. WNV is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Human infection typically begins when an infected mosquito introduces the virus into the dermis during feeding. The primary transmission cycle involves birds as amplifying hosts...