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lone star tick
noun
: an ixodid tick (Amblyomma americanum) of the southern, central, and eastern U.S. that attacks mammals and birds, is a vector of several diseases (such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis), and in which the adult female has a single white spot on the back
Examples of lone star tick in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Despite her caution, Pleasants — who has alpha-gal syndrome, an allergy to mammal meat caused by a bite from the lone star tick — estimates that since she was diagnosed in 2010, she’s experienced anaphylaxis about a dozen times.
—Angela Roberts, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2024
Bites from the lone star tick can lead to an allergy to red meat.
—Madeleine Burry, Health, 28 Feb. 2024
Unsurprisingly, the cases clustered in areas where the lone star tick is known to be established—though other ticks and potentially chiggers have also been linked to AGS.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 27 July 2023
Park is currently examining what happens when lone star ticks feed.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 14 Sep. 2023
That does not mean that lone star ticks are the only ones that can lead to developing AGS—other ticks have not been excluded as potential culprits.3 AGS can affect people of all ages, though AGS cases occur more often in adults.
—Amanda MacMillan, Health, 21 Apr. 2023
The bite of the lone star tick, found in the U.S. South, Midwest and mid-Atlantic, can trigger bizarre and sometimes dangerous allergies to red meat (such as beef, pork and venison), dairy, gelatin and some medications.
—Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2023
Park is currently collecting lone star ticks from around their range to find out how regions, climate or other factors may impact the rate of AGS transmission.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 14 Sep. 2023
Available in 2-ounce and 4-ounce spray bottles, this repellent advertises up to four hours of protection from deer ticks and up to eight hours for lone star ticks and brown dog ticks.
—Steven Rowe, Health, 28 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lone star tick.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1896, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near lone star tick
Cite this Entry
“Lone star tick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lone%20star%20tick. Accessed 19 Jun. 2024.
Medical Definition
lone star tick
noun
: an ixodid tick of the genus Amblyomma (A. americanum) of the southern, central, and eastern United States that attacks mammals and birds, is a vector of several diseases (as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis), and in which the adult female has a single white spot on the back
More from Merriam-Webster on lone star tick
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lone star tick
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