Lyme DiseaseBorrelia burgdorferi

Marie Rhodes

Vector

Blacklegged tick or deer tick (northeastern and north-central US)

Western blacklegged tick (pacific costal US)

Life Cycle

Takes 2 years Requires 3 separate

reservoirs (hosts) Larvae and nymph

commonly found on small mammals

Adult prefer white-tail deer

Transmission

Transmitted through the bit of infected tick

Nymphal stage responsible for most cases

Transmission

Bacteria is spread from bite of infected tick

Infection is reported worldwide and throughout the US

Symptoms

Begins a few days to a few weeks after bite

Appears to be rash from poison ivy

Soon rash takes on bulls-eye like appearance

Treatment

Antibiotics Quicker the treatment begins, lessens the

severity of later symptoms Treatment differs depending on stage

Prevention

Dress accordingly Avoid areas with a lot of

ticks Check for ticks