Common Tick-Borne Diseases Lyme Disease Cause: Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted through the bite of infected black-legged ticks, commonly known as deer ticks. Symptoms: Early signs include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes. A hallmark of Lyme disease is the erythema migrans (EM) rash, which often resembles a bull's-eye. Complications: If left untreated, Lyme disease can lead to severe joint pain ...