Understanding the Acquisition of Lyme Disease
Understanding Lyme Disease Transmission: A Guide
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. The primary carrier of this disease in the United States is the blacklegged tick, also known as the deer tick, Ixodes scapularis.
When a blacklegged tick bites a human, it injects the Lyme disease-causing bacterium through its saliva during the blood-feeding process. The key aspects of this transmission process are the stages of the tick most likely to bite humans, the timing of transmission, and the role of tick saliva.
Tick Stages and Human Bites
Nymphs and adult female ticks are the stages most likely to bite humans. Nymphs, which are about the size of a poppy seed, are particularly active and often go unnoticed.
Transmission Timing
Lyme disease transmission generally requires the tick to be attached for several hours, often considered 24 to 48 hours. However, partially fed ticks may transmit the bacteria more rapidly, potentially within less than 16 hours.
Tick Saliva
Tick saliva contains a numbing chemical that helps the tick feed undetected, allowing the bacteria to be transmitted before the person notices the bite.
Transmission therefore depends on the tick biting and feeding long enough to inject Borrelia burgdorferi into the host's bloodstream via saliva. Prompt tick removal greatly reduces the risk of Lyme disease.
Geographical Distribution and Seasonal Activity
Lyme disease is primarily reported in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and upper Midwest regions where blacklegged ticks are prevalent. The disease risk increases during spring, summer, and fall when ticks are most active.
Preventative Measures
Outdoor precautions include treating clothing with 0.5% permethrin products, using EPA-approved insect repellents, walking in the center of trails, avoiding high grasses and shrubbery, checking clothing, gear, and pets for ticks after returning from outdoors, showering soon after returning indoors, and conducting a full-body check for ticks.
Symptoms and Treatment
Symptoms of Lyme disease include an expanding rash, possibly resembling a bull's-eye, originating where the tick bit, fever, headache, muscle pain, dizziness, chest pain, heart palpitations, among others. If a rash or fever develops within several weeks of removing a tick, it's essential to contact a doctor. After removing a tick, the individual should disinfect their hands and the wound, and dispose of the tick without crushing it.
Non-Carrying Ticks
The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum), American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), and Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni) do not carry B. burgdorferi.
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Lyme Disease. [2] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Lyme disease. [3] National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (2021). Lyme Disease. [4] Inglesby, T. V., Benach, J. L., & Ostfeld, R. S. (2014). Lyme disease in the United States: Review of current understanding and future directions for research. The Journal of infectious diseases, 210 Suppl 1, S1-S9. [5] Schmidt, R. N., & Goldstein, L. S. (2019). Epidemiology of Lyme disease in the United States. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 19(1), e1-e10.
- Science continues to advance our understanding of various medical conditions, including chronic ones like chronic-kidney-disease, cancer, and Lyme disease.
- Lyme disease is a chronically debilitating disease, often misdiagnosed due to its non-specific symptoms.
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- Skin-care products may provide a temporary barrier against insect bites and stings, but they are not a substitute for preventative measures against Lyme disease.
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- Pets, especially dogs, can be a risk factor for Lyme disease transmission, making it essential to administrate appropriate flea-and-tick treatments.
- Traveling to areas with a high prevalence of Lyme disease can increase the risk of infection, making it important to research local tick populations and take preventative measures.
- Social-distancing guidelines and reduced outdoor activities during the COVID-19 pandemic may have unintentionally decreased Lyme disease cases in some regions.
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