Marshfield Clinic Research Institute Seeks Ticks for Second Year of Study

Marshfield Clinic Research Institute is once again asking Wisconsin residents to send in ticks they find while working and recreating outside this year.

In 2024, the Research Institute launched the Tick Inventory via Citizen Science (TICS) in an effort to identify the ticks that are found in the state. This information can be used to assess risk of encountering a tickborne disease and to learn more about who is being exposed and diagnosed with tickborne diseases.

Over 6,000 ticks from all nearly every Wisconsin county were submitted in 2024.

“We had overwhelming support from people 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.”

Of the ticks collected in 2024, about 4,200 or more than 70% were the American dog (wood) tick and the majority of the remainder were the deer (blacklegged) tick. Much of that difference is likely due to the larger wood ticks being easier to spot than the smaller deer ticks.

“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,” said Alexandra Linz, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute associate research scientist.

Deer ticks carry pathogens that may cause diseases such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis. The large number of ticks submitted allowed the research team to detect an influx of ticks from typically warmer climates, including the lone star tick that spreads ehrlichiosis and could cause Alpha-gal Syndrome (also known as the meat allergy), and Brown dog ticks that spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

“With new tick species becoming more prevalent in Wisconsin, the risk for potential newly introduced diseases increases,” Meece said. “We are trying to determine the extent and significance of this spread and the potential health effects.”

 

Request a kit

Tick collection kits are available at the George Mead Wildlife Area Education Center, Castlerock Veterinary in Marshfield, and many Marshfield Clinic locations.

For more information, or to request a pre-paid collection kit be sent to you, contact tics@marshfieldclinic.org or 1-715-389-7796 (extension 16462). Parks and nature centers interested in having kits available for their visitors also are encouraged to contact Marshfield Clinic Research Institute.

Once the tick, dead or alive, has been placed in the collection kit, just drop it in the mail to submit using the provided kits. Any tick found on people or pets is appreciated. Each kit will come with a unique identification number that people can use to look up, via an online dashboard, the species of ticks they submitted.

New this year inside the kit will be additional survey questions. Optional questions include the types of precautions the person is taking to avoid ticks, if they’ve ever been diagnosed with a tickborne disease and if the Research Institute can follow up with the person for potential future studies.

“We are interested in learning more about the diseases and how they affect people,” Meece said. “Tick-borne diseases are complex to diagnose, and sometimes, complex to treat. Having a better understanding of the people affected can better help us in future research.”

Tick submissions from all over Wisconsin is encouraged, regardless of if the person is a Marshfield Clinic patient.

 

Serious health consequences

Symptoms of illnesses resulting from a tick bite can include rash, fever, joint pain, and fatigue. Contact your medical provider if you have these symptoms.

“Lyme disease is by far the most common tick-borne illness in Wisconsin. Testing is important, because early treatment is highly effective in preventing later stages of the disease from developing,” said Dr. Thomas Boyce, a pediatric infectious disease physician with Marshfield Clinic Health System. “If you remove a deer tick that is attached and engorged, a single dose of an antibiotic (doxycycline) can reduce the risk of contracting Lyme disease ten-fold (from 3% to 0.3%).”

To reduce the risk of tick bites, spray insecticide such as permethrin on clothing, sleeping bags, and tent fabric. Wear clothing that covers your skin. Finally, have someone help you check for ticks after time spent outdoors.


A map of Wisconsin showing where ticks have been collected and sent to Marshfield Clinic Research Institute for identification