The reason that the Lyme bacteria are only transmitted by ticks after prolonged feeding times (my most recent source says 36 hrs) is that they needs to change their cell surface proteins in order to become infectious. They reside in the tick's stomach. When the tick begins to feed, and ingests warm blood, it triggers a change in the bacteria and causes them to manufacture new proteins and swap them for some of the existing ones on their surfaces. This is a process that takes some time, and when they're ready, they migrate to the tick's salivary glands, from which they can be injected into their new victim. Without this protein change, they're not infectious, which is why, for instance, you can't get Lyme disease by eating an infected tick. I know that deer and horse flies feed on deer, and probably ingest Lyme-containing blood, but I'm not sure if they can transmit it effectively, because they feed so very briefly (ticks stay attached for several days). Don't forget--it's not always the tick you see that gives you Lyme disease, and the bullseye rash doesn't always appear at the bite site--it can develop elsewhere. As for white-footed mice, they are the definitive hosts for Lyme disease, and are fed upon by first stage ticks (larvae). Deer ticks can transmit the disease in both the nymph and adult stages, but more effectively by the latter. @IpmMan: The reason doctors use antibiotics prophylactically in cases of known or suspected tick exposure is because the Lyme bacteria can be eradicated from the body only in the first few weeks after exposure. After that, they hole up in the lymph nodes and become permanent residents and cause a variety of disease syndromes. In fact, the best time to treat Lyme disease is BEFORE the blood test is positive, in those early weeks. The disease is responsive to antibiotics at any stage, but can only be eradicated early on. Once it reaches the more chronic form, bacterial numbers can be decreased with treatment, but not wiped out. I hope this answers a few questions.

This is really timely for me for personal reasons. Not to belabor my personal medical problems, but the last month or so I've had strange pains in my right hand. They started out as seemingly nerve-related (coldness, itchiness and pain upon pressure in the finger-tips) and then moved to joint pain, with severe pain in the knuckle joints and loss of motion. It seemed to move from one finger to the next. The doctors have not ruled out carpal tunnel yet, but seem perplexed by the symptoms. Fast forward two weeks. I wake up feeling absolutely lousy, sleep for way longer than is normal for me, and have two bloodshot eyes. Figure it's allergies. Start to feel better, but my eyes are still wacky, so I went to the eye doctor thinking I had an infection. He took one look at my eyes (not an examination, mind you, just a quick look), sees the splint on my wrist and asks what's wrong, and says, "I think you have Lyme disease". What a surprise to me! I'm hoping it's not, since I still haven't seen any evidence of a tick on me. So after seeing two doctors, (a GP and an orthopedic hand specialist) my eye doctor, of all people, wrote a prescription for a Lyme test. Hopefully I'll know by the end of the week. I have a friend who is suffering greatly from this disease. The doctors think she may have contracted it when we were teenagers, meaning she may have had it for 25 years - perhaps before it was even widely known. I believe she was diagnosed about 10 or 15 years ago. It saddens me to see what she goes through. Thanks, everyone, and especially Claire, for all the info and research here, and the link. It's all very helpful and informative. :) Dee

Wow. I thought the link was going to take me to the article I discovered about an hour ago while playing with my son's new tablet. But that article was about another new disease spread by ticks in the northeast. (See below.) Ye gods. I was in touch with Dr. Peter Krause, mentioned in the Time article, last year, and he was very helpful to me. Maybe it's time to call him again. Thanks, Anne. Here is a link that might be useful: Encephalitis virus found in ticks

Thanks, everyone, for your interesting responses. Lydia, that was a good, if dizzying, read. Because of my fibromyalgia and assorted other issues, IÂve been tested for Lyme numerous times over the years. Until I started reading up on Lyme this month, I assumed my negative tests meant I didnÂt have it. Now I realize itÂs just about impossible to be sure of anything related to this illness. Justgotabme, you never had any further symptoms of Lyme after that? Thank goodness for that. Vickey, how fortunate that you were able to find a doctor to prescribe the necessary antibiotics for the necessary length of time for your son, without a positive Lyme test. Yayagal, I would have guessed you live in New England. :-) My Connecticut cousin has had Lyme three times. She, too, recommended Doxicycline (or however itÂs spelled). She said she was prescribed Amoxicillin once, but didnÂt feel noticeably better until they switched it to Doxi. Were your ticks tested for Lyme? As I mentioned in an earlier thread, the only thing my tick was tested for was for type. I told the doctor it was a deer tick, but I guess he wanted official confirmation. I sure hope I donÂt end up paying for that test. IÂve since learned that our local state health department tests for type for free. Eandhl, I would suspect youÂre right. ItÂs hard to sort it all out. But this time I experienced several new symptoms that are specific to Lyme. So after I have the titer test on Monday, even if it comes back negative IÂm going to insist on a prescription for Doxicycline. Thanks again! Susan