Ticks and lyme disease

[homer]

Now I get a fair few ticks on myself through the year, and so far, afaik, I haven't got lymes.
Question is, at what point in its life, can a tick carry lymes?
Can it be born with it?
Does it need to have fed on an infected animal first?
Is it only adults that can carry or can those teeny weeny ones spread it too?
90% of my bites are the teeny weeny ones that you can hardly see.

 

[Rbr1401]

Lyme disease is an infection caught from the bite of an infected tick. Deer Tick/Black-legged Tick: This tick is the main culprit for Lyme disease transmission.

 

[homer]

Lyme disease is an infection caught from the bite of an infected tick. Deer Tick/Black-legged Tick: This tick is the main culprit for Lyme disease transmission.

Yes I realise this, but as in my original question, which point in its life can a tick become a carrier?

 

[Rbr1401]

Immature ticks (nymphs) are very small and can be easily missed, making them a significant source of transmission. Adult ticks are larger and more noticeable, but they can also transmit the disease. Hopefully this answers your ?

 

[SCC]

 

[zambezi]

which point in its life can a tick become a carrier?

From its smallest larval state onwards:








This is an American govt resource on Lyme, but I understand that the mechanism is same here in U.K. although the natural reservoir will likely include different animals:

Borrelia Burgdorferi - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf

 

[Rbr1401]

As I understand it’s from the nymph stage to adult that they can spread disease. A tick has four cycles egg,larva,nymph and then adult from larva they need to feed and then molt from 6 legs to nymph 8 legs and then from nymph onwards diseases can be passed

 

[opticron1]

As mentioned above, treat any tick as a potential carrier of Lyme disease and to a (thankfully) lesser extent Tick borne Encephalitis. You have been lucky so far to avoid it, but you are obviously careful about checking for ticks after a stalking trip. Until we have a successful and effective anti tick vaccine/tablet avoidance is the name of the game. Removal of the tick or tick nymph as quickly as possible lessens the risk of transmission, but there's always one or two that seem to get missed every season. Having seen a few keepers and stalkers take a long time to recover from Lyme disease, stay lucky and do your regular "tick check".

 

[BryanDC]

I just posted in another thread about ticks. I haven't used repellent up until now, but we are being warned more and more about not only lyme disease but TBE, tularemia and alpha-gal syndrome. All of them are increasing and moving north. So I'm definitely going for the TBE vaccine and will be using repellent from now on

 

[Heym SR20]

Do bear in mind, that like we are learned during the COVID pandemic we all react differently to infectious disease. Some will have a natural immunity and show no ill effects. Others will get seriously ill. Some who are fit and healthy in their prime of life will suffer paralysis and die before their time.

Lyme is just like any other disease. Some will get munched by ticks every day and not develop Lyme.

Others will bitten by one tick and that will a major life changing event.

There are also certain localities where Lyme seems much more prevalent than elsewhere.

However, here in the UK very little work is being done on Lyme, or that matter other long term infectious disease - it not sexy, doesn’t attract the funding, nor will make drug companies lots of money for a cure or a vaccine.

 

[Buchan]

The Lyme bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi for humans) doesn't pass into the egg stage (transovarial) but does pass from larva to nymph, and then from nymph to adult (transtadial).

The larvae bite small rodents, and if they are carrying the bacteria, they become infected. In the UK this is typically the Yellow-necked mouse but can be other species. larvae drops off, rests, moults, emerges as infected nymph which can pass the infection on to anything it bites. Same for the adult stage.

so the little buggers are the problem as you can't see them. If you do see them and can remove intact, count the legs. If six then it's a larva and won't carry Lyme. If eight it could be.

In terms of treatment (#8) there are I understand trials for the use of the drugs similar to Bravecto

 

[zambezi]

A worked example right on cue...today's morning stalk was successful...but both the wife and I collected nymph-size ticks off the latest addition to our freezer.

By removing the ticks within hours of arrival on the skin, most guides suggest risk of Lyme is low. Will keep track of bite sites and symptoms, if any.

 

[caorach]

There are also certain localities where Lyme seems much more prevalent than elsewhere.

Like many people who spend time out at deer, sheep, or just generally out on moorland, I would pick up quite a few ticks in an average day. More recently I'm being careful to try and limit the number, I think getting it down to zero is unlikely.

I find reports of "Lyme hotspots" or the geography of Lyme somewhat unreliable and, often, it seems to depend on there being a local medical person with an interest in the subject who is diligent in reporting cases. One area where I spend a lot of time is said to have only ever had one reported case of Lyme but I personally know more people than that who have been diagnosed with it, equally in another nearby area I am aware that some in the medical profession have a particular interest in the subject and this area is reporting many more cases despite land use etc. all being very similar.

With this in mind I'm going to suggest that people don't rely too much on reported numbers in terms of assessing risk as it is possible this is an artefact of reporting rather than an actual measure of risk.

 

[CookM]

I just posted in another thread about ticks. I haven't used repellent up until now, but we are being warned more and more about not only lyme disease but TBE, tularemia and alpha-gal syndrome. All of them are increasing and moving north. So I'm definitely going for the TBE vaccine and will be using repellent from now on

Is the vaccine a GP job?
I know two people in Devon who have had Lyme,and three in Hants.
To a lesser or more serious effect.
I have never had do many ticks on me as this year,or the dog...or the wife.
In that order.

 

[CookM]

Is the vaccine a GP job?
I know two people in Devon who have had Lyme,and three in Hants.
To a lesser or more serious effect.
I have never had do many ticks on me as this year,or the dog...or the wife.
In that order.

So many..

 

[wytonpjs]

Is the vaccine a GP job?
I know two people in Devon who have had Lyme,and three in Hants.
To a lesser or more serious effect.
I have never had do many ticks on me as this year,or the dog...or the wife.
In that order.

The TBE vaccine is actually a course of 3 given mostly by independents (eg Superdrug) for travel reasons to an affected area - I used boar shooting in Croatia as a reason. Was £90 IIRC but I now see its £195 .

The Lyme's Disease vaccine is in the latter stages of clinical trials in the US and Canada and I personally am hoping in concludes soon and will willingly pay!

 

[CookM]

I would be up for a jab.

 

[Buchan]

Like many people who spend time out at deer, sheep, or just generally out on moorland, I would pick up quite a few ticks in an average day. More recently I'm being careful to try and limit the number, I think getting it down to zero is unlikely.

I find reports of "Lyme hotspots" or the geography of Lyme somewhat unreliable and, often, it seems to depend on there being a local medical person with an interest in the subject who is diligent in reporting cases. One area where I spend a lot of time is said to have only ever had one reported case of Lyme but I personally know more people than that who have been diagnosed with it, equally in another nearby area I am aware that some in the medical profession have a particular interest in the subject and this area is reporting many more cases despite land use etc. all being very similar.

With this in mind I'm going to suggest that people don't rely too much on reported numbers in terms of assessing risk as it is possible this is an artefact of reporting rather than an actual measure of risk.

The prevalence of Lyme is hovering around 2/100,000 a year so it isn't common. But it can be devastating, which is the problem.

 

[highland stalker]

There is a program about ticks / lyme on BBC Alba this evening. 9pm I believe.
It will be available on the iplayer I am sure.

 

[Utectok]

So my understanding is the tiny stage of the tick will less likely be a carrier as deer are the main vectors of lymes. It’s not guaranteed but less of a risk. Also removing them a as soon as as possible reduces the risk. I think we’ve all had a few and sometimes I wonder at my aches and pains are something sinister but I think if you’ve got it you know. Old army fatigue soaked every year in nasty tick solution and you’ll never have any. I wear it all summer