Recorded in Salvador, Brazil, this special preview introduces A Tickier World through a global perspective on ticks and the illnesses and conditions associated with their bites. I’m Dr. Jenny Hall, a health sciences and public health educator and researcher. Through A Tickier World, I connect scientific research, practical public health education, and lived experience to make information about ticks and tick-associated illnesses and conditions more understandable, relevant, and useful for improving prevention and care. In this episode, I explore geographic differences, shared challenges, and the importance of knowing your risks, not only where you live, but also where you work and travel. I also introduce a One Health perspective connecting human, animal, and environmental health. This special preview offers a starting point for Season 1, which will begin with an exploration of what it means to live in a tickier world, followed by episodes exploring Lyme disease and alpha-gal syndrome. Episode Show Notes & Resources This special preview episode of A Tickier World was inspired by time spent in Brazil and reflections from an international conference. It considers how geography shapes our understanding of ticks, tick-borne diseases, and related conditions, and why looking beyond our own communities can offer a broader perspective on shared challenges. The episode brings together science, lived experience, and a One Health perspective to consider connections among people, animals, environments, healthcare, and public health. In This Episode A global perspective on ticks and tick-associated illnesses and conditions, and what that means for understanding your own riskLived experience with Lyme disease and alpha-gal syndromeA One Health lens connecting human, animal, and environmental healthAbout the Opening Quotes The quotes featured at the opening of this episode are drawn from Dr. Hall’s research on the lived experiences of people with diagnosed tick-borne conditions. References The sources below are listed in the order they appear in the episode and support information, data, figures, or maps presented. Wilson, J. M., Erickson, L., Levin, M., Ailsworth, S. M., Commins, S. P., & Platts-Mills, T. A. E. (2024). Tick bites, IgE to galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose and urticarial or anaphylactic reactions to mammalian meat: The alpha-gal syndrome. Allergy, 79(6), 1440–1454. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11142869/ Thompson, J. M., Carpenter, A., Kersh, G. J., Wachs, T., Commins, S. P., & Salzer, J. S. (2023). Geographic distribution of suspected alpha-gal syndrome cases—United States, January 2017–December 2022. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 72(30), 815–820. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7230a2.htm Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Geographic distribution of tickborne disease cases. https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/data-research/facts-stats/geographic-distribution-of-tickborne-disease-cases.html Wang, X.-R., & Cull, B. (2022). Apoptosis and autophagy: Current understanding in tick-pathogen interactions. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 12, 784430. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2022.784430/full de la Fuente, J., et al. (2023). Perception of ticks and tick-borne diseases worldwide. Pathogens, 12(10), Article 1258. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/10/1258 Explore & Connect Watch the episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/ZjWg4eqVSMQ Subscribe to A Tickier World on Substack https://atickierworld.substack.com Visit Ticks in Virginia: https://www.ticksinvirginia.com/ Visual Note Original photographs and video are by the author. Additional visuals include licensed design elements, public-domain materials, AI-generated illustrative images, and figures or maps from sources cited above. This podcast is intended for educational purposes and does not provide individual medical advice.
