Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is the major tick born disease in our area. It is spread by the deer tick (Ixodes scapularis), which is actively hunting and feeding right now. We can help protect our pets and ourselves by knowing some things about ticks and taking some precautions.

The Tick Life Cycle

Female ticks deposit eggs in the spring and hatch into larvae (baby ticks). They are not born infected with the Lyme organism (Borrelia burgdorferi). They feed on the white-footed mouse, the little mouse under your birdfeeder or in your brush pile or under your shed, which is the actual reservoir for Lyme disease and transmits the organism to the tick. After one meal the tick larvae go into a dormant state and molt into nymphs (juvenile ticks), which feed once the following spring. The nymphs are the most voracious feeders and will feed on people, dogs, cats and other mammals as well as reptiles and birds. Remember your bird feeders attract mice and birds to your yard. The nymphs are active now and will be until the end of July. They are responsible for most cases of Lyme disease. After they feed once, they molt into adults, which are active in the fall. Adults only feed once, preferably on deer (hence the name deer tick). After they mate the male dies and the female lays thousands of eggs the following spring (and then dies). They only feed three times in their two-year life.
Deer ticks also have some preferred habitats. They require a moist microenvironment. They will not survive in the middle of a mown lawn or infest your home-it is too dry. They live in your plantings- pachysandra, hedges, tall grass, brush, woods and under the deck where the dog hides from the sun and other moist places like that.

Tick Myths

Ticks don't jump or fly. They hunt (the proper word is quest) by climbing up to the top of a blade of grass or twig with legs outstretched and simply grab on to their victim as it walks by. Tick bites don't hurt or itch because they secrete a local anesthetic into the wound when they bite-they numb it up. Ticks also don't burrow into the skin; their mouthparts are like a straw that just sticks into the skin.

Signs of Lyme Disease

Signs of Lyme disease can vary greatly. About 2/3 of people infected will develop a characteristic rash. Most people will have some combination of fatigue, headache, stiffness in joints, slight fever or swollen glands. The disease can also affect the nervous system, heart or kidneys. Remember to always let a physician know that you live in an area with deer ticks if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. It is treated with various antibiotics.
In pets, the dog is most commonly affected. Dogs get the same range of symptoms as people except for the rash. Cats can get Lyme disease but it is rare.

Lyme Disease Prevention

One way to prevent Lyme disease is to avoid the tick: move birdfeeders away from the house, clean up brush piles, cut the lawn. Potential mouse breeding sites like rock walls or woodpiles can be cleaned up or moved away from the house. Avoid the ticks habitat- tall grass, bushes and woods.
If you go into tick habitat the use of insect repellants will decrease exposure. Insect repellants with the active ingredient DEET are effective, but only use those with concentrations of 20% to 30%. Higher concentrations can be toxic. Permethrin, marketed under the name "Permanone®" is effective but labeled for use on clothes only, not on the skin. Dogs and cats can be protected with insecticides such as Frontline, which kills fleas and ticks for a month. A PrevenTic ® collar is also effective for dogs, but not safe for cats. In addition dogs can be vaccinated against Lyme disease. Discuss these measures with your veterinarian who can also instruct you on their proper and safe use.

So it's tick season, but we don't need to barricade ourselves in our homes. With proper precautions we can have a safe and fun summer outdoors.