Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI) or masters disease, is a Lyme-like illness that seems to be transmitted by the Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum), which is the most common human-biting tick in Florida.
It was identified in people with a rash and other symptoms similar to those in Lyme disease that did not have evidence of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi and had been bitten by a different type of tick.
A related bacterium, Borrelia lonestari has been identified and may be the cause of the illness but is not confirmed.
Disease Prevention
Learn about steps that can be taken to help prevent mosquito and tick bites and ways to maximize protection against vector-borne illnesses.
Symptoms
The rash of STARI is a red, expanding lesion that develops around the site of a lone star tick bite. The rash usually appears within 7 days of tick bite and expands to a diameter of 3 inches or more, sometimes clearing as it enlarges to produce a target or “bull’s-eye” appearance.
The rash should not be confused with much smaller areas of redness and discomfort that can occur commonly at the site of any tick bite. Patients may also experience fatigue, headache, fever, and muscle pains. The saliva from lone star ticks can be irritating; redness and discomfort at a bite site does not necessarily indicate an infection.
According to studies on STARI, patients recover quickly from the rash and other symptoms after treatment with oral antibiotics.
