The tick was picked up from a location in southern Manitoba (south of the 53rd parallel), or another known risk area outside of Manitoba for Lyme disease ( map of Lyme disease risk areas in Canada can be found here), and.The tick was attached for a minimum of 36 hours, or engorged, and.The tick can be reliably identified as a blacklegged tick ( Ixodes scapularis), and.This preventative treatment should be considered when the following four criteria are met: With the number of Lyme disease cases increasing in southern Manitoba, health care providers should consider preventative treatment with antibiotics (see Quick Reference Guide for Health Care Providers for more information) for patients with a high risk tick-bite. Preventative Treatment after a High-Risk Tick Bite The highest risk period, May – July coincides with the peak activity of blacklegged tick nymphs. Humans can become infected when bitten by an infected blacklegged tick. In North America the bacteria is normally maintained between blacklegged ticks ( Ixodes scapularis), small mammals, such as mice, birds and deer. Lyme disease is a tick-borne infection caused by the bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi. Co-infection with either of these may result in symptoms that are more severe and/ or prolonged. Additional symptoms may be seen in individuals with exposure to Lyme disease in Europe.īlacklegged ticks can also transmit other infections, such as Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis. If left untreated infection can spread to the joints, heart and nervous system. Other early symptoms of Lyme disease are non-specific and may include: headache, fatigue, chills, fever, muscle aches, joint pain, stiff neck or swollen lymph nodes. Many people will develop a characteristic expanding rash (Erythema migrans) which is neither itchy, nor tender. Symptoms typically appear 3 – 30 days following the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. Image Content Provider: Adam Replogle US CDC PHIL Symptoms Risk of infection can be lowered by preventing tick bites. Lyme disease can be successfully treated with antibiotics, particularly when diagnosed early. If left untreated Lyme disease infection can cause joint, heart and nervous system complications. Common symptoms include a red-expanding rash (Erythrema migrans), headache, fever, fatigue, fever and chills. Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium transmitted in North America by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick ( Ixodes scapularis) or western blacklegged ticks ( Ixodes pacificus).