Lyme disease causes

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Lyme disease is caused by Gram-negative spirochetal bacteria from the genus Borrelia. At least 37 Borrelia species have been described, 12 of which are Lyme related. The Borrelia species known to cause Lyme disease are collectively known as Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, and have been found to have greater strain diversity than previously estimated.^[1]

Until recently it was thought that only three genospecies caused Lyme disease: B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (predominant in North America, but also in Europe), B. afzelii, and B. garinii (both predominant in Eurasia). However, newly discovered genospecies have also been found to cause disease in humans.

Causes

Borrelia bacteria, the causative agent of Lyme disease. Magnified 400 times. — *Borrelia* bacteria, the causative agent of Lyme disease. Magnified 400 times.

Lyme disease is caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi). Blacklegged ticks carry these bacteria. The ticks pick up the bacteria when they bite mice or deer that are infected with Lyme disease. You can get the disease if you are bitten by an infected tick.

Lyme disease was first reported in the United States in the town of Old Lyme, Connecticut, in 1975. In the United States, most Lyme disease infections occur in the following areas:

Northeastern states, from Virginia to Maine
North-central states, mostly in Wisconsin and Minnesota
West Coast, particularly northern California

Important facts about tick bites and Lyme disease

In most cases, a tick must be attached to your body for 24 - 36 hours to spread the bacteria to your blood.
Blacklegged ticks can be so small that they are almost impossible to see. Many people with Lyme disease never even saw a tick on their body.
Most people who are bitten by a tick do not get Lyme disease.

Dorsal view of an adult female western blacklegged tick, Ixodes pacificus which has been shown to transmit Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme disease. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
Dorsal view of an adult female western blacklegged tick, Ixodes pacificus which has been shown to transmit Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme disease. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
Scanning electron micrographic (SEM) image depicts dorsal view of an unidentified engorged female tick, extracted from the skin of a pet cat, viewed under low magnification of 26X. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
Scanning electron micrographic (SEM) image depicts dorsal view of an unidentified engorged female tick, extracted from the skin of a pet cat while in the process of obtaining its blood meal (207X magnification). The wrinkled, expandable tissue enables the tick to ingest huge quantities of blood. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
Scanning electron micrographic (SEM) image depicts dorsal view of an unidentified engorged female tick, wextracted from the skin of a pet cat while in the process of obtaining its blood meal (201X magnification). From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]