White-tailed deer are important to the survival of deer ticks but they are not involved with transmitting the Lyme bacteria. The serum component of white-tailed deer blood kills Lyme bacteria. Whatever it is in the deer that’s killing the germ is part of the innate immune system, a part that precedes antibodies, shares Stephen Rich, MS, PhD.
Although deer, such as white-tailed deer, can become infected with B. burgdorferi, they are considered to be ‘noncompetent reservoirs’ for this pathogen because they are cannot efficiently harbor and transmit B. burgdorferi.
Source: Forbes, March 31, 2023. Link.