What is Lyme disease?

What is Lyme disease?

• A. A fungal illness transmitted by ticks
• B. It is a bacterial disease transmitted by the blacklegged tick
• C. A viral illness spread by mosquitoes
• D. A parasitic disease transmitted by deer flies

Answer: (B)

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi (and related species) that humans acquire through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. The tick acts as the vector, delivering bacteria to the skin during feeding; transmission is more likely after the tick has been attached for a day or two. The blacklegged tick is the primary vector in North America (Ixodes scapularis) and in parts of Europe (Ixodes ricinus). This disease is not caused by a fungus, a virus, or a parasite, and it is not transmitted by mosquitoes or deer flies. That combination of being bacterial and tick-transmitted is why this option is the correct description.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi (and related species) that humans acquire through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. The tick acts as the vector, delivering bacteria to the skin during feeding; transmission is more likely after the tick has been attached for a day or two. The blacklegged tick is the primary vector in North America (Ixodes scapularis) and in parts of Europe (Ixodes ricinus). This disease is not caused by a fungus, a virus, or a parasite, and it is not transmitted by mosquitoes or deer flies. That combination of being bacterial and tick-transmitted is why this option is the correct description.