The Western black legged tick carries which disease?

The Western black legged tick carries which disease?

• A. Anaplasma phagocytophilum
• B. Ehrlichia canis
• C. Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease)
• D. Babesia canis

Answer: (C)

The Western black-legged tick is the classic vector of Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. When this tick feeds for a prolonged period (often more than a day), the bacteria can be transmitted to a person or animal, leading to symptoms such as a expanding skin rash, fever, fatigue, and flu-like signs. This association is the primary reason Lyme disease is the correct choice here. The other organisms listed are linked to different ticks or contexts. Ehrlichia canis is typically associated with brown dog ticks, Babesia canis with other tick species, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum can be carried by Ixodes ticks as well, but Lyme disease is the most well-known disease tied to the Western black-legged tick in many exam contexts.

The Western black-legged tick is the classic vector of Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. When this tick feeds for a prolonged period (often more than a day), the bacteria can be transmitted to a person or animal, leading to symptoms such as a expanding skin rash, fever, fatigue, and flu-like signs. This association is the primary reason Lyme disease is the correct choice here.

The other organisms listed are linked to different ticks or contexts. Ehrlichia canis is typically associated with brown dog ticks, Babesia canis with other tick species, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum can be carried by Ixodes ticks as well, but Lyme disease is the most well-known disease tied to the Western black-legged tick in many exam contexts.