What diseases are transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas?
Arthropods play a significant role as vectors of many pathogenic microorganisms. Mosquito-borne, tick-borne and flea-borne diseases occur in Texas. Mosquito-borne diseases are encephalitides caused by West Nile virus (WNV), St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus, western equine encephalitis (WEE) virus, eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus, and California encephalitis virus; Dengue fever; malaria; and Yellow fever. Flea-borne diseases, such as murine typhus and plague, have been identified in Texas. Diseases transmitted by ticks are ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI), Relapsing Fever, tularemia, babesiosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF).