The tickborne infections that have become most prominent in the past decade are lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and babesiosis. All of these infections can be transmitted by the same deer ticks, and the white-footed mouse is the reservoir for all three organisms. Lyme Disease There has been a 25-fold increase in recognized cases of lyme disease since 1982. Almost 12,500 cases are reported to the CDC each year. Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi.
Most lyme disease is transmitted by ticks in the nymphal stage.
Numbers of nymphs peak in late spring and early summer. Activities that increase risk are property maintenance, outdoor occupations or outdoor recreation. There is no person to person transmission, but congenital infection can Occur. It takes 24-36 hours before the nymph transmits the spirochete to the human host. After prolonged feeding, the spirochetes are inoculated and disseminate to skin, lymphatics and bloodstream.