It is an illness caused by bacteria that is spread by the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Ticks are usually picked up when brushing against vegetation and once on bare skin, they attach by their mouth parts. A tick can transmit the bacteria after it has been attached to the skin (feeding on blood) for 24-to-36 hours. Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics.
What are blacklegged ticks?
Ticks are very small and are related to mites and spiders. There are several kinds of ticks in New Brunswick. Only blacklegged ticks can cause Lyme disease. Adult female ticks are three-to-five millimeters in length and dark brown in colour. Immature ticks are smaller and lighter in colour. Once on bare skin, ticks attach by their mouth parts. After feeding on blood, ticks can become the size of a small grape.
