Which animal is considered a common Vector for Lyme disease?

Ticks are recognized as the primary vectors for Lyme disease, transmitting the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi to humans and other animals through their bites. These arachnids reside in wooded and grassy areas where they latch onto hosts, including deer and rodents, to feed, and during this process, they can transfer the pathogens responsible for Lyme disease. Their role as a vector is critical because they are specifically adapted to carry and spread this particular bacterium effectively, leading to the incidence of Lyme disease in humans.

In contrast, while rats, mice, and cats can be involved in the broader ecological dynamics of tick life cycles, they do not directly act as vectors for Lyme disease. For instance, mice can serve as hosts for juvenile ticks, but they do not transmit the disease themselves. The main vector - the tick - is crucial for the disease's transmission, making it the correct answer to the question regarding the common vector for Lyme disease.