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Lyme Disease


Lyme disease is commonly transmitted by tick bites because more than 50% of ticks are carriers. It can cause a variety of symptoms such as fatigue, arthritis, facial palsy and erythema migrans. Ticks require mammalian blood to survive. Hence, humans and various mammals are the most common prey to Lyme disease.


Small rodents are primary reservoirs of Lyme disease. An insect known as the ixodes tick bites these rodents and hence, spreads the disease airborne. Subsequently, the ixodes tick can either bite humans, infecting them, or colonise and lay eggs on a host, continuing the cycle.


Ticks pass the pathogen to us through tick saliva. Tick saliva contains an anesthetic, rendering the bites unnoticeable. It also has an anticoagulant, keeping the blood from clotting. Finally, it also has an immunosuppressive substance, this makes the host unable to fight off the infection. 


Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtBb_pBZUaQ

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/lyme-disease/ticks-and-lyme-disease


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