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On the Pacific Coast, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease are transmitted to humans by the western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus. The bite of these ticks spreads the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. These ticks, which normally feed on the white-footed mouse, deer, other Mammals, and birds, transmit Lyme disease to humans.
Ticks in the young stage (nymph) are the main source of transmitting Lyme disease bacteria to humans. Since they are tiny (less than 2mm) and rarely noticed, nymphs have the necessary time to feed and transmit the bacteria, typically after feeding for 18 hours or more. Also, nymphal ticks feed during the Spring and Summer months when people spend most time outdoors.
Adult ticks can also transmit Lyme disease bacteria. Because adult ticks are larger and more noticeable, they are more likely to be removed from a person's body within a few hours and therefore are less likely to have had enough time to transmit the bacteria. Moreover, adult Ixodes ticks are most active during the cooler months of the year when people spend less time outdoors and wear more clothing which provides added protection.
In Jackson County, our efforts are concentrated on educating people as to how to avoid coming into contact with ticks and how to remove the tick if they are bitten. Identification of the tick is very important, there being only one species of tick in our area that transmits the disease. There are a number of other tick species that are common to our area that do not carry the disease. Tick samples can be brought into the District's laboratory for identification at no cost. The District also supplies posters, tick ID cards, and tick removers to anyone needing them.
The District uses an out of state laboratory for it's tick testing program. If the tick sample is fresh, it is identified, then packaged and sent to the Sonoma County Public Health Lab in Santa Rosa, California. The test performed is the Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA). There is a $35.05 fee for this test.
