Erlichiosis Most common in the southern United States, erlichiosis usually occurs in rural areas during May, June, and July. It is caused by a rickettsia belonging to the genus Erlichia. Often the symptoms are very mild. Originally identified as an animal disease, erlichiosis was believed to be limited to dogs. Tick Paralysis Tick paralysis is not a disease, but a condition caused by toxins that a tick injects into its host during feeding.
Symptoms begin a day or two after initial attachment.
The victim loses coordination and sensation in the extremities. If the breathing center of the brain is affected, the victim may die. If the tick or ticks are found and removed, recovery begins immediately, and the effects disappear within a day. Generally, this condition is associated with ticks attached around the head area, particularly at the base of the skull. Ticks that have been implicated in tick paralysis in the United States are the Rocky Mountain wood tick, the lone star tick, and the American dog tick.