Or...Search This Site Home Symptoms Live Discussion Diagnosis Treatment World-wide Support Finder Library Research Lymelinks Contact Pets & Lyme DONATIONS Drug Info Medical Dictionary Board of Directors      Click on the graphic to vote for this site as a Starting Point Hot Site. - No Warranties or Representations The data and information presented in this web site are presented in good faith and believed to be accurate regarding Lyme disease (commonly misspelled lymes disease lyme's disease lime disease limes disease) and other related diseases. Any and all liability for the content or any omissions including any inaccuracies, errors, or misstatements in such data or information is expressly disclaimed. The web site is compiled for the sole purpose of informing community members of resources and information pertaining to Lyme Borreliosis Disease and its coinfections. Lyme disease symptoms may vary from person to person. The Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation, Directors and members are not liable for any direct or indirect damages or any damages whatsoever resulting from loss of use, data or profits, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tortious action arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of information available from this website. Consult a qualified Lyme ( Borreliosis ) Disease literate doctor for medical advice if Lyme Disease lymes disease lyme's disease lime disease limes disease is suspected to discuss your Lyme Disease Symptoms. en français For Physicians Ticks Coinfections Prevention Our Stories Click Here to order our free Lyme Disease Flyer,    Here for our free Lyme Disease Poster ..documents may be copied (to distribute) but edit only for alignment. Books/Video on Lyme Disease Known Vectors That Transmit Lyme Disease are Ticks (vectors are those animals that are capable of transmitting disease to humans) Not all ticks are known to transmit Lyme Disease. Canadians Find Lyme in Ixodes Auritulus (Avian Tick) Canadian researchers better identify risk of lyme -- Birds Disperse Ticks in Canada -- See Tick Reference Chart -- Terms for Describing and Identifying Ticks -- Tick Identification Markings The most common Lyme Disease tick vectors include Ixodes scapularis (Deer Tick), Ixodes pacificus (Western Black Legged Tick), Amblyomma americanum (Lone Star Tick), and Ixodes Angustus has been shown to be a competent vector in experiment2. Ixodes dammini was thought to be the only species responsible for transmission until it was shown to be the same species as Ixodes scapularis in 1993. Ixodes spinipalpis is implicated as a vector as well. Ixodes muris has shown to be a weak vector of Lyme disease and more research is needed. Even soft shell ticks can transmit borreliosis to humans1. The ticks prefer to live in wooded areas, low growing grassland, seashores and yards. Depending on the location, anywhere from less than 1% to more than 90% of the ticks are infected with Lyme spirochetes (Borrelia burgdorferi). The tick in the image to the right is the nymph stage of the lifecycle, the most common disease transmission cycle...hard to see or feel unless in the most obvious of locations on the body as they also numb the skin around the bite so as not to be detected. See -Researchers Find Sitting on Logs Bad for Their Health Ixodes scapularis (Deer Tick) Deer ticks have a two-year life cycle. That is, it takes two years for one egg-adult-egg generation to evolve. Therefore, deer ticks can be found all year long, including wintertime. A tick bite is required to transmit the disease because the bacterium is injected into the skin via tick saliva as the tick sucks blood. The infection is therefore not transmitted from pet to pet nor from pet to owner only via an infected tick bite, and not all ticks are infected with Borrelia. If the tick is not removed properly you may force the infection into your skin. Ixodes pacificus (Western Black Legged Tick) Same as above photos in size..very tiny when most known to transmit disease (nymphal stage as shown on thumbnail above).               Amblyomma americanum (Lone Star Tick). Female has star like spot on back.              Ixodes Angustus on the left, partially engorged Ixodes Pacificus on right Brown Dog Tick (click on photo for more info) Rhipicephalus Sanguineus. This tick has been shown to transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever to humans but it is still under study as to their ability to pass lyme to us (it is theorized lyme or other diseases may be transmitted to you if you scratch or pick at the tick while attached to you. It is theorized that this action will force the stomach contents of the tick into you) Click here for proper removal methods Rocky Mountain Wood Tick (click on photo) Dermacentor Andersoni. This and Dermacentor Variabilis as shown below have been shown to carry lyme but it is still under study as to their ability to pass it on through a bite3. It is 'theorized' that by scratching at an attached wood tick or dog tick (seen below), or by removing it with fingers you may force bacteria into your skin that otherwise would not be transmitted. Click here for proper removal methods American Dog Tick (click on photo) Dermacentor Variabilis (male top, female bottom) This and Dermacentor Andersoni as shown above have been shown to carry lyme but it is still under study as to their ability to pass it on through a bite3. It is 'theorized' that by scratching at an attached wood tick (seen above) or dog tick, or by removing it with fingers you may force bacteria into your skin that otherwise would not be transmitted. Click here for proper removal methods Click on Image to Enlarge ***Note the light coloured shield area behind the head of the Dermacentor ticks as opposed to the black or dark shield of the Ixodes ticks. The Dermacentor ticks (light coloured shield) are not worrisome for lyme infection but can carry other nasty diseases. TOP 1. hermsii.html 2. Ixodes Angustus 3. http://www.canlyme.com/dermalyme.html