Lyme Disease

What is Lyme disease and can cause death. Signs of disease are The pain will occur off and on and what causes it? rarely seen in horses and cattle but the joints may be swollen. This can Lyme disease is a bacterial disease involve lameness or stiffness. continue for years. During this stage many “bulls-eye” rashes can also spread by ticks. Disease can vary but Can I get Lyme disease? usually involves a skin rash and joint develop. In rare cases the bacterial Yes. People get Lyme disease pain (arthritis). The disease occurs may spread to the brain or heart. through the bite of an infected tick worldwide and throughout the U.S. (vector). The tick must attach for at Who should I contact, if I The states with the highest number least 24 hours to transmit the bacteria. suspect Lyme disease? of cases are in the northeast and the Immature ticks, called nymphs, are In Animals – upper-Midwest. the primary transmission source of Contact your veterinarian. What animals get Lyme Lyme disease in humans. They are In Humans – disease? much smaller than adult ticks and Contact your physician. harder to see. Dogs, horses and sometimes cattle How can I protect my animal Disease in humans can vary from can get Lyme disease. White-tailed from Lyme disease? deer, mice, chipmunks, gray squirrels, no illness to severe disease. Signs may start 1 to 2 weeks after infection (tick Use tick prevention medications. opossums and raccoons can also Keep your pets out of wooded areas be infected. bite). A small red bump may develop at the site of the tick bite; it may then and away from wildlife. Check them How can my animal get slowly spread into a large circular often for ticks and remove any ticks Lyme disease? “bulls-eye” type rash. Not all people found promptly. Wear gloves when removing the ticks to protect yourself. Lyme disease is spread through the infected get this rash. Other signs may A vaccine is available for dogs in high bite of an infected tick (vector). Wild include fever, body aches, stiff neck risk areas. mammals, especially small rodents and headache. and deer, can carry the bacteria in The second stage of the disease How can I protect myself nature. Ticks get the bacteria when occurs weeks to months later. It from Lyme disease? they feed (bloodmeal) on infected involves pain in one or more joints; Avoid tick prone areas (leaf litter, wildlife. The tick can now spread the the knee is the most common site. wooded areas, high brush). If entering bacteria to other animals (such as these areas, wear long sleeves, long pets) or humans when it feeds (bites). pants, closed toed shoes. Light colored clothing will make finding any How does Lyme disease affect my animal? ticks on you easier. Check yourself and others frequently for ticks, especially Wild mammals infected with the when leaving the area, and remove bacteria usually show no signs of them promptly. When touching or illness. In dogs, signs of disease can removing ticks, wear gloves. Always take up to 2 to 5 months to appear. wash your hands afterwards. Lameness and joint pain (arthritis) may be seen. The “knee” and “elbow” For More Information are the most commonly affected and Lyme Disease is a bacterial disease lameness may shift from leg to leg or CFSPH Technical Fact Sheets. Lyme Disease occur “off and on” (intermittent). Dogs spread by ticks that affects at http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/ DiseaseInfo/ may also have a fever. The disease dogs, horses and humans. CDC website Lyme Disease at http://www. usually resolves on its own; some cases Photos of deer (reservoir) and tick (vectors) of Lyme disease. Inset circle shows the bacterial agent. cdc.gov/lyme/ may last long term. Rarely, the bacteria may affect the kidneys or heart, which

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