Lyme Disease Borrelia 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