Nymphs are most likely to be found during the early summer months (May through July). If these nymphs fed on infected animals as larvae, they may then transmit pathogens to their second host. They seek small to medium-sized hosts, including domestic animals and people. Nymphs feed on small rodents, small mammals, and birds in late spring and summer. They then are inactive until the following spring, when they molt into nymphs. Larvae feed on mice, other small mammals, and birds in the summer and early fall if they feed on an infected host, they may become infected. Ticks are free of pathogens when they hatch. The eggs hatch into larvae during the summer. Adult female ticks lay eggs in the spring. Knowing about the tick's life cycle is important for understanding the risk of acquiring Lyme disease and finding ways to prevent it. After more than forty years of research, there is no convincing evidence that Lyme disease can be transmitted through means other than a tick bite. They are slow feeders a complete blood meal will take several days. Ticks feed on blood by inserting their mouthparts into the skin of a host animal. They usually attach themselves in areas that are more hidden or hairy, such as the groin, armpits, and scalp. Ticks search for host animals from the tips of grasses and shrubs and are transferred to animals or people that brush against vegetation. Campers, hikers, outdoor workers, sportsmen, and others who frequent such areas are at risk. Wooded, brushy places are common blacklegged tick habitats. Thus, the nymphs typically have ample time to feed and transmit the infection (about twenty-four hours is necessary transmit the pathogen). Research in the eastern United States suggests that nymphs are the most dangerous because they are rarely noticed due to their small size. Closely related ticks in the western United States and ticks from other parts of the world have been identified as transmitting the disease to humans. In the Northeast, the tick most commonly associated with the disease is the blacklegged tick ( Ixodes scapularis). Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks infected with Borrelia burgdorferi. Over 475,000 people are estimated to contract Lyme disease annually. Since then, case numbers of Lyme disease have continually increased, and the disease has become an important health problem in some of the most populated areas of the United States.Ĭurrently, Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. It was first identified in the United States in 1975, after a mysterious outbreak of juvenile arthritis among the residents of Lyme, Connecticut. Lyme disease was recognized in Sweden as long ago as 1908. Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a member of the family of corkscrew-shaped bacteria known as spirochetes, and transmitted by blacklegged ticks ( Ixodes scapularis).
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