When an infected tick latches on to feed, the bacteria migrate from its gut to its salivary glands and then into your bloodstream.
Transmission usually requires the tick to be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more. borrelia burgdorferi
This spirochete causes a characteristic annular rash, arthritis, carditis, and in late stages, encephalopathy. National Institutes of Health (.gov) Why Is Lyme Disease So Hard to Treat? When an infected tick latches on to feed,
The bacterium lives in the midgut of certain ticks—primarily the (deer tick) in the Northeast and Midwest, and the western blacklegged tick on the Pacific Coast. National Institutes of Health (
If left untreated, the infection can move through different stages: Borrelia Burgdorferi - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - NIH
Unlike almost all other life forms, this bacterium does not need iron to survive. Instead, it uses manganese, allowing it to bypass the body's natural defense of "starving" invaders of iron. 3. Symptoms to Watch For
Its spiral shape allows it to "drill" through dense tissues, like cartilage and nerves, where other bacteria might get stuck.