Which pathogen risk is associated with D. andersoni west of the Missouri River?
Answer
Colorado Tick Fever
The primary differential diagnosis for tick-borne illness is significantly influenced by the geographical location where the *Dermacentor* tick was encountered, which correlates directly with the species present. When *D. andersoni* is found west of the Missouri River, the risk assessment leans toward the transmission of Colorado Tick Fever. Conversely, *D. variabilis*, prevalent east of that line, is the greater vector concern for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF). Therefore, the geographic split serves as a critical first step in determining the likely pathogen involved before laboratory confirmation.
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