Which genus is a known vector for Lyme disease?

• A. Dermacentor
• B. Ixodes
• C. Amblyomma
• D. Rhipicephalus

Answer: (C)

Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks of the genus Ixodes. These hard ticks, especially Ixodes scapularis in North America and Ixodes ricinus in Europe, carry Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Transmission typically occurs during the nymphal stage when the tick is very small and often goes unnoticed, making Ixodes the primary vector for human infection. The life cycle of Ixodes involves multiple host feedings over years, which explains why exposure in grassy or forested areas is a common risk.

Other tick genera, such as Dermacentor, Amblyomma, and Rhipicephalus, are vectors for different pathogens (for example, RMSF or ehrlichiosis), not Lyme disease, so they are not the usual vectors for this illness.