Microbiology and Immunology 2500A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 29: Ixodes Scapularis, Petroleum Jelly, Cerebrospinal Fluid
16 Jan 2017
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Document Summary
Commonly presents as skin lesions (erythema migrans) Most common vector-borne disease in north america. First recognized in 1975 in rural communities surrounding lyme, connecticut. If untreated, can lead to arthritis, carditis and nervous system manifestations. Many were noted to have a (cid:498)bulls eye(cid:499) rash prior to development of symptoms. Rash was associated with a tick bite. A "spirochete" was isolated from the ticks, and subsequently from skin, blood and cerebral spinal fluid of patients borrelia burgdorferi. Thin (~0. 5 m) and long (>10 m), spiral shaped. Lyme borrelia are widely found throughout temperate zones in the northern hemisphere. B. burgdorferi is the major cause in north america. Other species can cause lyme disease collectively called b. burgdorferi sensu lato. B. burgdorferi are spread by the bite of (cid:494)hard(cid:495) ticks (ixodes species) = vector borne disease. B. burgdorferi is transmitted to different mammalian hosts through ticks. B. burgdorderi is only found in their vertebrate or arthropod hosts.
