MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ticks carrying Lyme disease have been found in six additional Indiana counties, according to a new Ball State University report.

Blacklegged ticks were found in Green, Howard, Jennings, Marshall, Ripley and St. Joseph counties, according to the annual tick report compiled by Ball State’s Public Health Entomology Laboratory.

The lab facility tests ticks gathered from around the state to determine if they carry Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever or ehrlichiosis. The lab received 1,023 ticks, a record number of ticks in 2000, said Robert Pinger, a professor of physiology and health science.

Although several cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever were reported in Indiana last year, none of the ticks submitted to the lab this year tested positive.

During 2000, 29 cases of tick-borne diseases were confirmed in Indiana. These include five cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, 23 cases of Lyme disease and one case of ehrlichiosis.

Symptoms of Lyme disease include a persistent, slowly expanding blotchy, red rash that is paler at the center than at the edges. Symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis include a moderate to high fever along with fatigue, muscle aches and chills.

Warmer weather and more outdoor activities increase the risk for tick bites. People visiting tick infested areas should take the following precautions:

• Wear light-colored clothing when walking in the woods to make ticks easier to spot and remove.
• Wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt and tuck pants into socks or boots and shirt into pants so ticks can't crawl underneath clothing.
• Spray insect repellent on clothing and exposed skin.
• Check clothes and skin carefully for ticks after leaving a wooded area.

Pinger said if a tick is found attached to the body, remove it promptly and carefully with tweezers. The bite area and hands should be cleaned with a disinfectant.

After removal, place the tick in an air-tight container. If the person becomes ill within two weeks, the tick specimen may help a doctor diagnose a tick-borne disease.

If individuals are worried about ticks found on themselves or family members, they may be submitted to the lab for testing. The tick specimen should be placed in a clean plastic tube or vile and the lid should be secured with tape.

Include name, date and address with the package and mail to Robert Pinger, Ball State University, Department of Physiology and Health Science, Muncie, IN 47306.