What minimum attachment duration is usually required for Borrelia burgdorferi transmission?
Answer
36 to 48 hours or more
The successful transmission of *Borrelia burgdorferi*, the bacterium responsible for causing Lyme disease, from an infected Western Blacklegged Tick to a human host is not instantaneous upon attachment. Scientific understanding indicates that the pathogen requires a significant amount of time to migrate within the tick and be effectively introduced into the host's system. This necessary period is generally established as 36 to 48 hours, or even longer, of continuous feeding. This timeframe underscores the critical importance of prompt tick removal; removing an attached tick before this threshold significantly reduces the probability of contracting Lyme disease, even if the tick was infected.
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