deer tick
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The deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) is an intermediate host for Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. The bacterium is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected deer tick.
Some species of ticks, particularly the Ixodes species, can harbor and transmit the Borrelia bacteria that cause Lyme disease. When a tick carrying Borrelia bites a host, such as a human or a mammal, it can transmit the bacteria and cause infection.
Borrelia burgdorferi is associated with Lyme disease, which is a bacterial infection transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. Symptoms of Lyme disease can include fever, fatigue, headache, and a characteristic expanding rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, Lyme disease can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system.
When Borrelia burgdorferi enters the body through a tick bite, it can disseminate through the bloodstream and invade different tissues, leading to symptoms of Lyme disease. The bacterium can evade the immune system and persist in the body, causing a range of symptoms such as fever, fatigue, joint pain, and neurological issues. Early treatment with antibiotics is crucial to prevent the progression of the disease.
In the United States, Borrelia burgdorferi is primarily carried by the black-legged tick, also known as the deer tick. These ticks become infected with the bacteria by feeding on animals such as mice and deer that harbor the pathogen. When the infected ticks then feed on humans, they can transmit the bacteria, leading to Lyme disease.
Yes. Ticks carry the spirochete that causes Lyme Disease. A walk through an area with thick bushes or a wooded area or trail can result in a tick biting a human. The tick actually transmits the spirochete, called Borrelia burgdorferi.