The Ixodes tick
Species
There are hundreds of species of ticks found throughout the world, but the Ixodes tick is the primary vector responsible for transmitting the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, the actual cause of Lyme disease.
The Ixodes tick
Ixodes scapularis, or the deer tick, is found predominately in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Upper Midwest regions. Ixodes pacificus, or the black-legged tick, is the major species in the Western United States.
Ixodes and other species of ticks transmit more than just Lyme disease to dogs and humans, including:
- Anaplasmosis
- Ehrlichiosis
- Babesiosis
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases of human Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever have all increased in recent years.1 Lyme disease was the number-one infectious disease claim in 2007 according to a leading pet insurance company.12
To view photos of Ixodes and other ticks, go to www.dogsandticks.com.
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