Southern tick-associated rash illness
Encyclopedia
Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI) or Masters' disease is an emerging infectious disease related to Lyme disease
that occurs in southeastern and south-central United States. It is spread by tick bites, but the organism that causes the infection is unknown.
carried by the Lone Star Tick Amblyomma americanum
. This tick was first proposed as a possible vector of disease in 1984, and the illnesses associated with the tick called "Lyme-like disease", but it was not until the late 1990s that it was recognized that this was distinct from Lyme disease.
Several studies have failed to detect Borrelia burgdorferi
, which is the causative agent of Lyme disease, in patients from the southern United States. It has therefore been proposed that this disease may be caused by the related bacterium Borrelia lonestari, which is a spirochete that was first isolated in culture in 2004. However, this conclusion is controversial since the spirochete is not detected in all cases of the syndrome, which has led some authors to argue that the illness is not caused by a bacterial pathogen.
The Centers for Disease Control is conducting a study to attempt to culture the bacteria responsible for causing Southern Tick Associated Rash Illness and is requesting participants for the study. In addition, individuals can submit ticks that cause a STARI like rash without participating in the study. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/stari/
Diagnosis is based on a circular "bulls eye" rash at the site of infection called Erythema chronicum migrans
, which is very similar to that seen in Lyme disease. However, the symptoms of STARI are mild, and resemble influenza
, with fatigue, muscle pains, and headache. Fever is sometimes seen, but is not characteristic.
, and the acute symptoms appear to respond to these drugs.
Lyme disease
Lyme disease, or Lyme borreliosis, is an emerging infectious disease caused by at least three species of bacteria belonging to the genus Borrelia. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto is the main cause of Lyme disease in the United States, whereas Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii cause most...
that occurs in southeastern and south-central United States. It is spread by tick bites, but the organism that causes the infection is unknown.
Causes
This illness is a tick-borne diseaseTick-borne disease
Tick-borne diseases are diseases or illnesses transmitted by ticks. As the incidence of tick-borne illnesses increases and the geographic areas in which they are found expand, it becomes increasingly important that health professionals be able to distinguish the diverse, and often overlapping,...
carried by the Lone Star Tick Amblyomma americanum
Amblyomma americanum
Amblyomma americanum, or lone star tick, is a species of tick in the genus Amblyomma. It's average length is 1/4 inch.-Distribution:...
. This tick was first proposed as a possible vector of disease in 1984, and the illnesses associated with the tick called "Lyme-like disease", but it was not until the late 1990s that it was recognized that this was distinct from Lyme disease.
Several studies have failed to detect Borrelia burgdorferi
Borrelia burgdorferi
Borrelia burgdorferi is a species of Gram negative bacteria of the spirochete class of the genus Borrelia. B. burgdorferi is predominant in North America, but also exists in Europe, and is the agent of Lyme disease....
, which is the causative agent of Lyme disease, in patients from the southern United States. It has therefore been proposed that this disease may be caused by the related bacterium Borrelia lonestari, which is a spirochete that was first isolated in culture in 2004. However, this conclusion is controversial since the spirochete is not detected in all cases of the syndrome, which has led some authors to argue that the illness is not caused by a bacterial pathogen.
The Centers for Disease Control is conducting a study to attempt to culture the bacteria responsible for causing Southern Tick Associated Rash Illness and is requesting participants for the study. In addition, individuals can submit ticks that cause a STARI like rash without participating in the study. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/stari/
Symptoms
Erythema chronicum migrans
Erythema chronicum migrans refers to the rash often seen in the early stage of Lyme disease. It can appear anywhere from one day to one month after a tick bite. This rash does not represent an allergic reaction to the bite, but rather an actual skin infection with the Lyme bacteria, Borrelia...
, which is very similar to that seen in Lyme disease. However, the symptoms of STARI are mild, and resemble influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
, with fatigue, muscle pains, and headache. Fever is sometimes seen, but is not characteristic.
Treatment
Infections are treated with antibiotics, particularly doxycyclineDoxycycline
Doxycycline INN is a member of the tetracycline antibiotics group, and is commonly used to treat a variety of infections. Doxycycline is a semisynthetic tetracycline invented and clinically developed in the early 1960s by Pfizer Inc. and marketed under the brand name Vibramycin. Vibramycin...
, and the acute symptoms appear to respond to these drugs.
Prognosis
No serious long-term effects are known for this disease, but preliminary evidence suggests that if such symptoms do occur, they are less severe than those associated with Lyme disease.External links
- Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness Centers for Disease Control
- STARI Fact Sheet Florida Department of Health
- Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI) SCWDS Briefs, January 2003, Vol.18, No.4