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Blacklegged Tick
Feeds on: This aggressive species of tick feeds on mice and other small rodents, a variety of birds, deer and other larger mammals; adult and nymph stages readily bite humans.
Pathogens transmitted: As populations of this primary vector for Borrelia burgdorferi grow, so does the probability of contracting Lyme disease. The blacklegged tick is also known to spread Anaplasma phagocytophilum (anaplasmosis), Babesia microti, Powassan Virus, Borrelia miyamotoi, Ehrlichia muris eauclarensis, and cause tick paralysis in dogs and other animals. Bartonella and Rickettsia strains have been found in the blacklegged tick, however, more research is required to prove they are competent vectors of these diseases in humans.
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