Ticks: Lyme Disease

Question 1

What is Lyme Disease?

Answer 1

bacterial infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi (bacteria)

Question 2

What is the vector for Lyme Disease?

Answer 2

ticks

Question 3

What is the reservoir for the bacteria that caused Lyme Disease?

Answer 3

wildlife reservoirs that cause no apparent clinical disease in infected animals

Question 4

What are the animal symptoms/syndrome for Lyme Disease?

7

Answer 4

1. subclinical in wild animals
2. domestic animals
   - fever
   - anorexia
   - swollen lymph nodes
   - lameness
   - fatigue

Question 5

How is Lyme Disease transmitted?

Answer 5

through bit of an infected tick (ixodes spp.)

Question 6

How is Lyme Disease diagnosed? (4)

Answer 6

1. history
2. syndrome
3. serology
4. culture of blood or tissue

Question 7

How is Lyme Disease treated?

Answer 7

antibiotics

Question 8

What happens to people who are treated with antibiotics in the early stages of the infection?

Answer 8

they usually recover rapidly and completely

Question 9

What happens to people who are treated with antibiotics at later stages of the disease? (2)

Answer 9

1. may have persistent or recurrent symptoms

2. need a second 4-week course of therapy

Question 10

What happens when someone has to undergo longer courses of antibiotics?

Answer 10

have been linked to serious complications including death

Question 11

How is Lyme Disease controlled and prevented?

4

Answer 11

1. avoid tick bites
2. control ticks around your house
3. manage wildlife populations of deer and squirrel
4. seek medical help after tick bites