researchers of the San Francisco State University They have begun a three-year study at Edgewood Park on Lyme disease that will focus on monitoring tick hosts such as mice, deer and woodrats, as well as testing the efficacy of an oral bait vaccine indicated to limit the spread of the disease.
According to the San Mateo County Council, the study will continue until December 2026.
Researchers will be able to work off-trail within Edgewood Park, but no trail closures related to the study are planned, the county Parks Department said.
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted by ticks. It can be cured with early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment, but can persist in the human body for years if not treated properly.
Lyme disease was named after Old Lyme, Connecticut, where the first cases of the disease were reported.
The first case in California was reported in 1978. It is currently the most commonly reported tick-borne disease in the state, as well as in the United States.
Each year, state health departments and the District of Columbia report about 30,000 cases of Lyme disease to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
However, that number does not reflect all cases of Lyme disease diagnosed in the United States each year. Standard national surveillance is just one way public health officials can track where a disease occurs and how often.
Recent estimates using other methods suggest that approximately 476,000 people may contract Lyme disease each year in the country.
Is the tick that transmits Lyme disease in San Mateo County?
Yes, the most commonly found tick in San Mateo County during the winter and spring is the western blacklegged tick – Ixodes pacificus – a known vector of Lyme disease.
According to the San Mateo County Mosquito & Vector Control District, Lyme disease bacteria have been detected in approximately 3.0 percent of western blacklegged ticks in the county.
The department said infected ticks have been found along recreational trails throughout the county.
How do people get Lyme disease?
Adult ticks are commonly found when people's clothing brushes against grass or bushes along the edges of hiking trails. Nymphal ticks are found on fallen logs and leaf litter in wooded areas. People can pick them up on clothing or skin when they lean against trees, sit on logs, or play in fallen leaves.
Nymphs are particularly dangerous because their small size allows them to go unnoticed and they can feed on a person for several days without being found.
What are the symptoms and signs of Lyme disease?
An early sign of Lyme disease infection often includes a spreading, “bull’s-eye” rash that may be accompanied by fever, aches, and/or fatigue.
Symptoms that occur during the later stages of the disease may include heart and/or nervous system complications, as well as severe arthritis. Lyme disease presents with a variety of symptoms and signs in different people. If you are infected, you may experience one, both, or none of these symptoms/stages, and they may overlap.
It is important to note that Lyme disease can be successfully treated in most cases with antibiotics, but early treatment is important.
Some people may continue to experience symptoms even after they have been treated for Lyme disease. This is called “post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome.” Researchers believe it may be the result of residual damage to the body caused during the infection.
What does a tick look like?
In California, the western blacklegged tick is the primary carrier of Lyme disease. The adult female is reddish brown with black legs, about 1/8 inch long; males are smaller and completely brownish black. Ticks that have fed on blood—called engorged—will appear much larger, gray in color, and may reach the size of a pea. Ticks in their immature life stages can be as small as a pinhead or a poppy seed.
Where is the western blacklegged tick found?
This tick can be found in grass and brush along trail edges and along ecotones. Adult ticks feed on deer, rabbits, lizards, mice, and other animals.
Ticks do not fly, jump or fall from trees. They climb to the tips of vegetation, usually along animal trails or paths, and wait for an animal or human host to brush against them so they can attach themselves.
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