Lyme Disease: Transmission

Transmission of Lyme Disease is important to understand so you can avoid it. You do not want Lyme disease! Here are some facts about transmission which an AI thought you should know. Are they true? We aren’t really sure, probably some are. Perhaps all. You can never tell these days.

1. Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus are the primary ticks responsible for transmitting Lyme disease in the United States.
2. The bacteria which cause Lyme disease are typically transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks.
3. The black-legged tick which transmits Lyme disease may need to be attached for at least 36-48 hours to transmit the bacterium.
4. Some studies suggest that Borrelia burgdorferi can persist in non-human hosts like white-footed mice and white-tailed deer, contributing to ongoing transmission.
5. The transmission of Lyme disease can also occur during the nymphal stage of the tick’s life cycle, which is smaller and harder to detect.
6. The bacteria can also be transmitted through blood transfusions and organ transplants.
7. The bacteria can cross the placenta, leading to potential congenital transmission from an infected mother to her unborn child.
8. Lyme disease can be passed through breastfeeding, but the risk of transmission is low.
9. Experimental animals have had Lyme disease bacteria sucessfully introduced through food.
10. While ticks are the primary vectors, other insects like mosquitoes and fleas have also been found to carry the bacteria.
11. Some studies suggest that Lyme disease can be sexually transmitted, although further research is needed.
12. Pets can also contract Lyme disease and serve as a potential source of infection for humans.
13. The migratory bird population plays a role in the geographic spread of infected ticks.
14. Tick-bite itchiness shortly after removal can be a normal reaction and not necessarily indicative of infection.
15. OspC (Outer Surface Protein C) is a lipoprotein produced by Borrelia which helps the bacteria establish an infection in the host by allowing them to adhere to host tissues and evade the immune response.