Black-legged ticks aren’t born with the pathogens that cause Lyme disease; they get them from feeding on animals that act as reservoirs of the bacteria (e.g., deer, mice, birds, lizards). In the U.S., Wisconsin and Minnesota (among other North-Central states) and many Upper Northeast states are hotspots for diseases like Lyme, which are carried by the black-legged tick.
To help you learn more about Lyme disease, “The ABCs of Lyme Disease” flash cards include information about symptoms, treatment, and other important facts.
Special thanks to Elli Theel, Ph.D., Co-Director of Vector-Borne Diseases Laboratory Services at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Theel leads this service with her colleague Bobbi Pritt, M.D., who is also the Director of the Clinical Parasitology Laboratory at Mayo.
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