Do Raccoons in Texas Carry Ticks or Babesia?
Do raccoons in Texas carry ticks?
Can raccoons spread Babesia infections?
New research raises important public health questions.
Raccoons in Texas are commonly exposed to ticks and may carry tick-borne infections. Researchers have identified Babesia microti—a parasite that can infect humans—in raccoons in parts of Texas.
This raises an important question: could raccoons play a role in the spread of tick-borne disease in the southern United States?
Do Raccoons in Texas Carry Ticks?
Raccoons frequently host ticks, including Ixodes scapularis, also known as the deer tick. This tick species is capable of transmitting Lyme disease and Babesia.
Because raccoons move between wooded, suburban, and residential areas, they may help maintain tick populations in environments where people live.
Do Raccoons in Texas Carry Babesia?
Investigators examined 480 wild mammals in East Texas to look for Babesia species using molecular testing.
Although the overall detection rate was low, Babesia microti was found specifically in raccoons.
In fact, 5 out of 15 raccoons (33.3%) tested positive for Babesia microti, according to Modarelli et al.
This suggests that raccoons may serve as a potential reservoir for this parasite in Texas.
Are Babesia Strains in Texas Similar to Other Regions?
DNA analysis showed that the Babesia microti strains found in Texas raccoons were similar to strains identified in the northeastern United States and in Florida.
This suggests that tick-borne pathogens may be more geographically connected than previously thought.
Have There Been Human Cases of Babesia in Texas?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only a small number of human babesiosis cases have been reported in Texas.
Between 2011 and 2015, just 3 cases were documented.
However, the authors noted that there were no confirmed human cases in the specific regions studied, despite the presence of infected animals.
Why This Matters for Tick-Borne Disease Risk
Even without widespread human cases, the presence of infected animals and tick vectors raises concern.
The authors emphasized that public health agencies should continue monitoring for babesiosis risk in Texas.
This is particularly important because the tick Ixodes scapularis—also known as the deer tick—is capable of transmitting both Lyme disease and Babesia.
Start here: Lyme coinfections
Clinical Takeaway
Raccoons in Texas may carry ticks and Babesia infections.
While human cases remain uncommon, the presence of infected wildlife and competent tick vectors suggests a potential risk that should not be ignored.
Understanding how these infections spread in animals may help improve surveillance and prevention of tick-borne diseases in humans.
Related Reading
- Don’t let your guard down on questing ticks in the south
- Lyme disease in the south: 4 children infected at one camp
- Northern ‘immigrant’ ticks causing concern in the south
References
Modarelli, J. J., Westrich, B. J., Milholland, M., et al. (2020). Prevalence of protozoan parasites in small and medium mammals in Texas, USA. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, 11, 229–234.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Babesiosis surveillance — United States, 2011–2015. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/ss/ss6806a1.htm
Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH
Lyme disease clinician with over 30 years of experience and past president of ILADS.
Symptoms • Testing • Coinfections • Recovery • Pediatric • Prevention
