Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium transmitted to humans by deer ticks. Generally, deer ticks pick up the bacterium while in the larval stage by feeding on infected white-footed mice. However, certain other species on which the larvae feed do not harbor the bacterium. If the population of these other species was increased, more of the larvae would be feeding on uninfected hosts, so the number of ticks acquiring the bacterium would likely decline. True or false?

Lyme disease is a multisystem illness usually caused by infection with the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi and the body's immune response to the infection.

It is caused by a bite from a black-legged tick (deer tick).

The symptoms of Lyme disease often happen in three stages:

Two Early Stages

1. For the first few weeks, symptoms may include:

-a rash near the tick bite, which usually is round or oval. Some rashes have a clear middle (called a bulls-eye rash).

-fever

-tiredness

-headache

-neck pain

-muscle aches

-joint pain

2. After a few more weeks, untreated Lyme disease can lead to:

-neck stiffness

-rashes on parts of the body not -near the tick bite

-slow or irregular heartbeat

-problems with the nervous system (brain and spinal cord) including:

damage to a facial nerve that can cause drooping (facial palsy)

numbness in arms or legs

mood changes

memory problems

inflammation of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)

Late Stage

If Lyme disease goes untreated for months, the earlier symptoms can continue. The person also can develop arthritis (swollen, painful joints).