Final answer:
The medical assistant should inform the patient that Lyme disease is transmitted through the bite of an infected tick, namely Ixodes species. Lyme disease is a vector-borne bacterial infection, and taking preventative measures is important in endemic areas.
Step-by-step explanation:
A medical assistant is talking with a patient who has Lyme disease. The assistant should explain that the means of transmission for this infection is the bite of an infected tick. Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is carried by ticks such as Ixodes scapularis in the eastern U.S., and Ixodes pacificus along the Pacific coast. These ticks are vectors, organisms that transmit pathogens, and Lyme disease transmission to humans occurs when they are bitten by these ticks.
Lyme disease is considered a vector-borne disease, similar to malaria, which is also transmitted by an insect vector, in this case, a mosquito. In regions where Lyme disease is common, it is important to take preventative measures when spending time in nature, such as using insect repellent and checking for ticks. The ticks that transmit Lyme disease, particularly the nymphs, are very small and their bites are usually painless due to their anesthetic saliva, so it is possible to be bitten without noticing.