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North South Divide
15 February 2017

North South Divide

Symptoms of Lyme disease, which is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria transmitted via tick bites, include fever, headache, fatigue, and rash. Without prompt antibiotic treatment, however, Lyme disease can lead to more serious problems, such as heart, joint and nervous system damage. Blacklegged ticks (pictured) are the most common vector of B. burgdorferi and are prevalent throughout the eastern United States. But, inexplicably, northeastern states report more cases of Lyme disease than the south. Now there’s a clue as to why. Ticks die if exposed to extended periods of heat and low humidity, and researchers discovered that in the south, where temperatures are highest, ticks bury themselves under leaves to retain moisture. While northern ticks also stick to shady areas, crucially they don’t go deep into the leaf layer. Thus, it’s thought that by staying buried, southern ticks don’t come into contact with people as often as their northern counterparts.

Written by Ruth Williams

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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