Lyme Disease Background
Ticks carry bacteria that cause Lyme disease and other tick-borne
diseases such as ehrlichiosis and babesiosis. Reducing
ticks on your property decreases your chance of getting Lyme
disease. Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the
United States.
The disease was first identified in Lyme, Connecticut in 1975. It
occurs primarily in the
northeastern, mid-Atlantic, and north central states. Most cases
occur in the late spring and early summer when the
nymphal stage of the tick is active.
Lyme disease is caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi,
a corkscrew-shaped bacterium, and is transmitted to humans and pets by the
bite of an
infected deer tick (Ixodes scapularis).
Credit: Todar, Kenneth (2002); University of Wisconsin,
Department of Bacteriology
Most people develop a red rash, called erythema migrans (EM),
within 3-21 days of a tick bite. The painless rash expands gradually,
often reaching six or more inches in diameter, and disappears without
treatment. The presence of an EM rash larger than two inches in
diameter usually confirms a diagnosis of Lyme disease. Other common
symptoms are flu-like, including:
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fatigue, muscle and joint pain
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fever (usually low grade)
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headache |
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chills |
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stiff neck |
More about Babesiosis
More about Ehrlichiosis
Next: Learn about Ticks, Mice and Deer and the roles they
play. Click on the tick when ready
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