Question: are ticks born with lyme disease?
Answer: Ixodes scapularis commonly called blacklegged or deer ticks, are generally born uninfected with Lyme disease, i.e., they do not contain the Lyme bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi. Research has shown a small percent may be born infected with the bacteria. Deer/blacklegged ticks feed once in each stage, larva, nymph, adult.