Medically reviewed by Adair Anderson, MS, RDN, LDN
Ticks, the small but formidable arachnids, are more than just a nuisance. They’re major vectors of diseases, with Lyme disease being the most prevalent in the United States.
And it’s not just Lyme—over the past few decades, tick populations and the diseases they carry have surged—more than doubling in the past 13 years.
These tiny creatures thrive in wooded and grassy areas, latching onto their hosts to feed and transmitting various pathogens.
What makes ticks particularly dangerous is not just their ability to spread infections like Lyme disease but their potential role in triggering autoimmune responses.
The mechanisms by which tickborne pathogens influence the immune system are complex and still being unraveled.
Growing evidence suggests infections transmitted by ticks can initiate or exacerbate autoimmune disorders in susceptible individuals, making the study of these interactions crucial for both diagnosis and treatment.
This article dissects the intricate connection between tick bites and autoimmune diseases, including the biological processes behind tickborne illnesses, the impact of these pathogens on the immune system, and advanced diagnostic tools for effective diagnosis and management.
Table of Contents
The pathogenesis of tickborne illness begins when a tick attaches to its host, leading to a series of interactions that can profoundly affect human health.
Ticks that commonly bite humans include the black-legged tick (or deer tick), the lone star tick, and the American dog tick. These ticks are found in wooded, brushy, and grassy areas, especially in regions with high humidity. Their presence in these habitats emphasizes the importance of environmental awareness for prevention.
When a tick latches onto its host, it typically remains attached for several days. The tick's mouthparts are designed to anchor securely to the host, allowing it to feed undisturbed.
As it feeds, the tick can transmit pathogens harbored in its saliva through a process known as salivary injection.
The Biological Process from Bite to Disease Transmission:
Tickborne diseases, while diverse in their presentation, pose significant health risks and have potential long-term consequences, including the triggering of autoimmune responses.
Ticks carry many pathogens that cause diseases in humans. The most well-known and widespread of these include:
These pathogens can incite autoimmune responses by directly affecting the immune system’s ability to distinguish between foreign invaders and the body’s own cells.
The inflammation and immune dysregulation triggered can pave the way for autoimmune diseases.
Once it enters the human body, Borrelia burgdorferi implements various survival mechanisms, damaging the host’s immunity.
The tickborne bacteria is a potent antigen— once it enters the human body, it can undergo changes in gene expression to adapt to its new environment.
Additionally, by binding to many different host tissue components and adhering to extravascular tissue, the bacteria can colonize various tissues in the body.
Initially, when a tick carrying Borrelia bites a human, the bacterium enters the skin and can spread to different body parts through the bloodstream.
During its journey, Borrelia burgdorferi has several strategies to evade the immune system, including altering its surface proteins, which confounds immune detection and response.1
As the bacteria disseminate, they can sequester in remote areas of the body, like the joints, skin, and the nervous system.
This ability to hide from the immune system, combined with its antigenic variation, allows the bacteria to persist long-term, potentially causing chronic symptoms.
This can lead to disabling post-treatment syndromes that persist even after the bacterial infection is treated, such as the development of autoimmune disorders.1
There are several factors that may be responsible for a tickborne pathogen triggering an autoimmune reaction.
Like with other threats, the body's initial reaction to a tickborne pathogen is to mobilize the immune system to attack the invader.
This response is necessary to eliminate the pathogen but can become problematic if excessive or misdirected.
The chronic inflammation triggered by ongoing or unresolved infections can alter the normal functioning of the immune system, potentially leading to autoimmunity.
Molecular mimicry is one of the fundamental mechanisms through which tickborne infections may lead to autoimmune disease.
Here, while targeting the pathogens, the immune system also mistakenly attacks the body’s own cells.
This occurs because certain protein sequences on the pathogen resemble the body's own protein sequences. The immune system's failure to distinguish between the two can lead to an immune response against the body’s own tissues.
Other damaging responses include:
The challenge of diagnosing tickborne diseases is compounded when these infections lead to or coexist with autoimmune disorders.
Recognizing the overlap of symptoms between tickborne diseases and autoimmune disorders can provide insights into their complex interplay and guide more effective diagnostic strategies.
Lyme disease can manifest through diverse symptoms impacting the skin, heart, joints, brain, and eyes. These symptoms often overlap with those seen in autoimmune diseases, complicating the diagnostic process.
Common overlapping symptoms include:
These symptoms can be seen in autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic sclerosis (SSc), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and dermatomyositis (DM).3
The similarity in symptoms leads to significant challenges in differential diagnosis.
Symptoms like joint pain and fatigue are nonspecific and can be attributed to a wide range of diseases, making it difficult to pinpoint their cause without comprehensive testing.
This is especially true in cases of chronic Lyme, where patients will develop such chronic, nonspecific symptoms, similar to autoimmune, neuromuscular, or other bodily disorders.3
Differential diagnosis requires careful consideration of your clinical history, symptomatology, and exposure risks. The overlapping nature of symptoms often necessitates a range of diagnostic tests to rule out other conditions.
This process can be time-consuming and frustrating for both patients and healthcare providers, underlining the need for more specific and sensitive diagnostic tools.
Accurate and early diagnosis is especially critical when dealing with tickborne illness, as symptoms can become severe if left untreated.
Timely identification of the underlying causes of symptoms can lead to more effective treatment strategies, potentially reducing the risk of chronic complications.
Vibrant’s Tickborne Diseases Test and Tickborne Autoimmunity Panel provide advanced tools for detecting tickborne illness and associated autoimmune conditions.
The Tickborne Diseases Test detects a broad range of antibodies and exposure to multiple pathogens simultaneously.
Vibrant’s Tickborne panel provides protein microarray antigen and PCR detection of Lyme disease, TBRF, and co-infections with tickborne diseases like Anaplasma, Babesia, Borrelia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia species.
The panel’s dual approach—testing for antibodies (indirect) and DNA (direct) — provides the most comprehensive Lyme and co-infection detection.
The test uses a first-of-its-kind customizable multiplex protein microarray and chemiluminescence detection to test antibody reactions to pathogens.
Protein microarray technology allows you to access the full scope of antigen reactions rather than relying on only a limited number.
This allows for more comprehensive and accurate Lyme disease testing.
The Lyme Autoimmune panel provides targeted information regarding autoimmune conditions associated with tick bites.
The test detects 11 antibodies against specific antigens related to Lyme disease that are known to trigger or mimic autoimmune conditions, focusing on arthritis, carditis, and neuroborreliosis.
Testing for Lyme-linked autoimmune responses is crucial for those currently diagnosed with Lyme disease or post-treatment to identify the presence of or risk for developing autoimmune conditions.
Understanding the root cause of symptoms is vital for receiving appropriate treatment and preventing further damage.
Benefits of Vibrant tickborne testing include:
By combining these two panels, you can position yourself for comprehensive diagnosis, better outcomes, and more precise management of these challenging conditions.
Ticks, small as they are, carry pathogens that can cause significant health disruptions, affecting various body systems. From neurological complications to joint inflammation and heart issues, the potential impact is vast and varied.
Recognizing and addressing tickborne illnesses promptly enhances the effectiveness of treatment and significantly reduces the risk of developing chronic conditions that can arise from delayed diagnosis.
Advanced tools like the Tickborne Diseases Test and the Lyme Autoimmune Panel are pivotal in this comprehensive management strategy.
By enabling precise and early diagnosis, these tests ensure that treatment can be as targeted and effective as possible, protecting against the more severe consequences of tickborne diseases.
The fight against tickborne illnesses is a multidimensional battle that requires awareness, prompt action, and an integrated approach to healthcare.
As we advance our understanding and improve our diagnostic and treatment strategies, we enhance our ability to protect and promote the health of individuals exposed to these challenging diseases.
Want to learn more about the multifaceted effects of tickborne illness?
Read these next:
Misdiagnosis and Delayed Treatment: The Consequences of Chronic Lyme Disease
Research Spotlight: Protein Microarray for Comprehensive Tickborne Testing
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