Diagnosed with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever(RMSF) last July, and four months later (!?) Infectious Diseases specialist disputed the dx on grounds I should be dead. Symptoms can also mimick tetanus, Covid 19, etc. We've all been taught that a fungal growing environment is better than bacterial, and RMSF is a bacterial infection. I wonder if anyone knows of research that one such type would support tick populations more than the other?
Here's a story: Three years ago, I was admiring the scenery on a forested path in central Virginia. About the time my hiking fellows reached me I glanced over my shoulder and saw three, maybe four ticks sliding down on one of those strands that silkworms leave hanging in the trees. One tick was holding onto the line with a hind leg, his front paw securely fastened to the hind leg of another, who was holding onto another...My friend quickly picked them off me, but THAT was a truly amazing sight.
