My mom, dad, and both my sisters were likely bitten by those ticks. Mom and dad have both passed on, but both sisters and I love red meat. I call BS on this study.
I have been bitten by plenty of ticks but to my knowledge none of them had a white spot on their back.
About 2 or 3 years ago my dogs got ticks and I found 2 ticks in my bed but MrD and I were not bitten.