DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Scientists analyzed the distribution of three potentially harmful tick species in Illinois, identifying regions of the state with higher numbers of these ticks and, therefore, at greater risk of infection with multiple tick-borne diseases.

The study found that, of the three species tracked, the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, is most prevalent in Southern Illinois; the black-legged tick or deer tick, Ixodes scapularis, is more common in Northern and Central Illinois; and the dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, dominates the central and southern parts of the state. The findings, reported in the journal "Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases," include clusters of counties with the highest number of ticks of each species.

All three tick species are likely present in every

See Full Page