1. By, Cheryl Poleschuk and Linda Hansen
Lyme Disease
By, Cheryl Poleschuk and Linda Hansen

2. What is Lyme Disease?
An acute inflammatory disease characterized by a rash with joint swelling and fever
Caused by the bacterium Borrelia Burgdorferi, which is carried by the tick Ixodes Scapularis
Named after the town Old Lyme, Connecticut where an epidemic of arthritis occurred in the ‘70s
Leading arthropod-born disease in the US
Zoonotic Infection

4. Ixodes Scapularis Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Archanida
Order: Ixodida
Family: Ixodidae
Genus:Ixodes
Species: Scapularis

5. Ixodes Scapularis Vector for Lyme disease
Common name: black-legged tick or deer tick
Found in Eastern and North-Central US
Feeds on wide variety of hosts including humans
Have 3 hosts in their lifetime- one for each life stage
Transmits other diseases
Babesiosis
Anaplasmosis
Between 25-50% of deer ticks are infected with B. Burgdorferi in North eastern US

6. Morphology Hard-bodied ticks Adult and nymph stages have 8 legs
Larva has 6 legs
Anal groove is anterior to the anus
Flattened dorsoventrally in the unfed state
Cuticle grows to accommodate the blood meal
Marked sexual dimorphism in size and often in color
Females are larger and have larger mouth parts than males

7. Life Cycle

8. Symptoms
First sign of infection is a circular rash called erythema migrans
70-80% get the rash
Gradually expands
Bull’s eye like appearance
Flu-like symptoms = fatigue, chills, fever, headaches
Migratory joint pain
Swollen lymph nodes

9. Symptoms cont.
If left untreated infection can spread to other parts of the body within a few days to weeks
Loss of muscle tone on one or both sides of the face = Bell’s Palsy
Severe headaches and neck stiffness due to meningitis
Shooting pains
Heart palpitations and dizziness
Joint pain

10. Symptoms cont. After several months…
About 60% with untreated infection begin to have intermittent bouts of arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling; especially in the knees
5% may develop chronic neurological complaints
Shooting pains, numbness or tingling in hands and/or feet
Problems with concentration and short term memory

11. Symptoms cont.
A small percentage of treated people continue to have symptoms that last for months after treatment
Muscle and joint pain, arthritis, cognitive defects, sleep disturbances, or fatigue
Cause unknown
Some evidence states that these symptoms result from the autoimmune response
The immune system continues to respond after infection has been cleared

12. Diagnosis Characteristic rash History Lab tests ELISA
If ELISA is positive, Western blot is used to confirm the diagnosis

13. Treatment Antibiotics Doxycycline for adults
Amoxicillin or Cefuroxime axetil for children or pregnant mothers

14. Control Avoid woody, bushy areas with lots of grass
Use 20-30% DEET insect repellent and/or Permithin
Tick Check!
Cover your skin

15. References CDC.gov/lymedisease
Roberts, Larry S. "Foundations of Parasitology." New York: The McGraw-Hill Company, 2009.
Mayoclinic.com/lymedisease