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Zoonosis "Lyme Disease Carried by ticks
Lyme disease tick. Scanning electron micrograph of an engorged female Ixodes ricinus tick, a blood- sucking parasite of humans. This tick uses specialised mouthparts to pierce the host's skin and hold fast for several days while it swells with blood, increasing in weight by up to 200 times. The female feeds only three times during her life and can survive for years between meals, spending most of the time hidden in vegetation. Mating takes place just before her final meal, after which she drops to the ground and lays thousands of eggs. I. ricinus transmits the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi to humans, which causes Lyme disease. Magnification unknown.
Details
ID
10777513
Collection
License type
Editorial
Photographer
Creation date
14-12-2010
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