Transmission of the Lyme disease spirochete occurs after 36 hours of feeding. But, where there are adults, there must have been nymphs earlier in the summer. They are also active in months with less out-door activity. Bites by adult ticks do not usually cause Lyme disease because they are larger and more easily noticed than nymphs. In endemic areas, about 20% of nymphs and 50% of adult deer ticks are infected with the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. This is why knowing about deer tick biology is essential for Lyme disease prevention. In fact, only about 25% of Lyme disease patients recall a tick bite. They commonly feed to repletion (3-4 days) on people without notice. This is because they are small and hard to see, and they are active during the summer when outdoor activities are at their peak. The seasonality of host-seeking has important epidemiological significance as the nymphal stage is responsible for 80 to 90% of Lyme disease cases. They cannot host-seek when the temperature is below 45 degrees or when there is snow on the ground. Adults seek hosts from late October until early May, depending upon the temperature. Larvae host-seek in August and nymphs host-seek from May to July. Thus, the risk of getting Lyme disease in the South is very low compared to the northern states.Įach stage of the deer tick is actively seeking hosts at different times of the year. The southern form also feeds upon deer in the adult stage, but larvae and nymphs frequently feed upon lizards, which are not infected with B. Because mating and female feeding occur on deer, it is considered to be the reproductive host, hence the name deer tick. The immature stages, larva, and nymph, of the deer tick feed upon small mammals and birds which can infect ticks with Borrelia burgdorferi, while the adult stage feeds primarily upon deer. This underscores the importance of evidence-based information on how to prevent tick bites, remove ticks, and understand the science behind tick-borne illnesses.Īll of this takes place in wooded areas where animal hosts are abundant. The incidence of some of these tick-borne diseases has been on the rise in the US due to a variety of factors such as climate change, increased land development, and other ecological factors. This makes ticks notorious for their role in the spread of illnesses like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and several other infections. When they feed on their hosts, ticks can transmit pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. Some species of ticks are highly specialized and feed on only specific host species, contributing to the delicate balance in natural ecosystems.Įvery tick species has a complex life cycle which often involves multiple blood meals from different organisms, they have the ability to become vectors for disease-causing pathogens, including bacteria and viruses that are of importance to human public health. This feeding behavior can impact their hosts in various ways, ranging from minor irritation to serious health issues. As ectoparasites, they feed on the blood of mammals, birds, reptiles, and occasionally amphibians. Just three tick species are responsible for 98% of all tick-borne illness in the U.S.Įcologically, ticks are important as they are part of the food chain and contribute to controlling animal populations. In the U.S., there are 15 species known to transmit a total of 30 human pathogens, but most of these are rare. With over 900 species identified worldwide, these small arachnids are remarkably adaptable, inhabiting a range of environments from dense forests to urban gardens. Ticks are blood-feeding arthropods belonging to arachnid family, closely related to spiders and scorpions. The more you know about ticks, the more you will understand Lyme disease and other illnesses caused by ticks, and the more knowledge you will have to prevent them.
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