Borrelia Burgdorferi Research Paper

A virus is a small capsule that contains DNA or RNA, viruses, unlike bacteria are not self sufficient and need a host in

Unlike bacteria, that have everything it needs to reproduce, viruses need to use a living cell's organelles in order to replicate.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted through the bite of one of several types of ticks. Borrelia burgdorferi (B burgdorferi) is the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. UMMC (2016) asserted that

Lyme disease has been identified as an infection surrounded by complications, starting from its discovery to diagnosis. The Lyme infection was discovered first during the mid-1970, following the attribution of juvenile arthritis outbreak to this disease near Old Lyme, Connecticut. The naming of the disease was established in 1977, although the complications of the causative agent lasted an additional five years, after which medical scientists identified the deer tick midgut Borrelia burgdorferi spirochete as the supposed causative agent (Lyme Research Alliance, n.d.).

Lyme disease is a multisystem, inflammatory illness. It is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. It is a vector-borne infection (which means it is spread directly from one host to another) transmitted specifically through the bite of an infected tick (Mayo Clinic: Lyme Disease - Definition, Aug. 27, 2015).

All diseases have a causative agent, a biological pathogen that causes the disease. In Lyme disease, the causative agent is a harmful bacteria called Borrelia burgdoferi. That being said, every disease is transmitted in one way or the other. In this case, Lyme disease is transmitted through a vector. That vector being a deer tick or in the Western United States, a black-legged tick. In order to contract Lyme disease, the tick must imbed

Lyme borreliosis or Lyme disease can be devastating both physically and mentally for victims. The disease is transmitted by a vector, specifically a tick, which infects their host by biting and infecting them with pathological spirochete bacteria known as Borrelia burgdorferi (Muschart & Blommaert, 2015). There are several species of Borrelia globally, and as a group, the bacteria are referred to as Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Pearson, 2015). The disease originated from, Lyme Connecticut, of which it was named, after a patient was mistakenly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when the cause of their disease was B. burgdorferi or Lyme disease (Snow, 2013). Lyme disease is classified as one of the most common and growing vector-born disease in the United States as well as Europe (Snow, 2013). Understanding how Lyme disease progresses through the body as well as the disease’s signs and symptoms are essential to understanding how to treat the disease and stop it from spreading throughout the body with destructive results. With a disease as potentially devastating as Lyme disease, early treatment is required for a better outcome (Pearson, 2015). This research paper will discuss the pathophysiology of three Lyme conditions known as Lyme arthritis, Lyme neuroborreliosis, and Lyme carditis and provide an overview of the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease and treatments, and how to prevent infection.

Lyme disease begins with a bite from an infected tick. It is the most common tick-borne disease within the United States (Wadsworth Center, n.d.). The causative agent of Lyme disease is Borrelia burgdorferi. This pathogen is a spirochete with endoflagella, an outer membrane with LPS-like substance, an inner membrane and a periplasmic space which contains a layer of peptidoglycan (Tilly, Rosa, Stewart, 2009).

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by a spirochete, a corkscrew-shaped bacterium called Borrelia burgodorferi. Lyme disease is primarily transmitted through tick bites, there has been no reported cases of human to human transfer of Lyme disease. Ixodes ticks, also known as deer ticks are the typical carriers of the Lyme disease. The ticks can most primarily be found in wooded and grassy areas. Due to the fact these ticks are only the size of a poppy seed they usually go undetected when they bite. Once the tick is attached to the skin it can feed for several days; the longer the tick is attached the more likely Lyme disease will be transmitted. Lyme disease can affect any organ of the body including the brain, nervous system, muscles, joints, and even the heart. In some cases, if a pregnant woman develops Lyme disease it can pass on to the unborn child and in some cases stillbirth has occurred due to the disease.

This tick is known for three different names which are the Western black-legged tick, deer tick, or Ixodes Pacificus. This tick is almost microscopic to the eye, scientist found out that this tick can be as small as a poppy seed. Borrelia Burgdorferi is not classified as Gram Negative or Gram Positive. For those who are unsure gram-negative and gram-positive is two different groups for classifying bacteria. To determine which group the bacteria belongs in, you must use the gram stain test. To do a gram stain test, you use a chemical stain and looking through a microscope to observe the bacteria’s protective cell wall. The differences between gram-negative and gram-positive, gram-negative bacteria usually appears as a pinkish or red color. Gram-positive may come out as a purple stain. Borrelia Burgdorferi is a prokaryotic cell since it doesn’t have as many organelles.

The spirochete has a unique and distinct morphology because of its long, spiral or twisted body and periplasmic flagella. Because of the flagella is between the inner and outer membranes and the body is helical, Borrelia burgdorferi is particularly motile. The flagella are positioned at each end of the spirochete and overlap through the center of the bacteria. This contributes to the shape of the bacteria as well, which is somewhat unique to Borrelia burgdorferi. The bacteria move in a forward spiral motion allowing it to spread quickly inside of the host. In humans, there are toll-like receptors and antigens that lead to the production of cytokines to fight off the foreign invader. However, some of the bacteria have special mechanisms to avoid the immunity response and is able to evade it. Lyme disease can be classified as a zoonosis because it is a disease that is carried by animals and transmissible to humans as the ideal host. Once the tick is infected with Borrelia burgdorferi, the tick can pass the disease onto any human that it feeds off of. Ticks have a hypostome, or barbed mouth, that latches onto the skin in folded, less visible, moist areas. Once they attach to the skin, they begin to feed off of the host and this is when Borrelia burgdorferi is able to transmit. The tick bite is often not severe enough for the human host to recognize that he or she has been bitten. In the infected tick, Borrelia

A corkscrew shaped spirochete which is known as Borrelia burgdorferi is the reason behind majority of Lyme disease cases around the globe.

The symptoms of lyme disease is normally a fever, headache, chills, fatigue, and a rash. Early symptoms might include a rash that is an expanding red area, it forms center of a bulls eye pattern type. Sometimes it is called ‘erythema migrans’, which refers to a rash. The later symptoms will include joint pain, swelling, vomiting and nausea. It might also cause some neurological problems like inflammation surrounding the brain.

Every disease has a causative agent. The causative agent of Lyme disease is the bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi. Borrelia burgdorferi is a spirochete that is approximately 20-30 cm in length and .2-.3 mm in width. It is not classified as either Gram-positive or Gram-negative. When B. burgdorferi is Gram-stained, the cells stain a weak Gram-negative by default, as safranin is the last dye used. Lyme disease does not only affect certain cells, tissues, organs within the host. As Lyme disease is a multi-system disease which can affect virtually every tissue and every organ of the human body. Lyme disease is a tick-borne systemic infection caused by a spiral organism, Borrelia burgdorferi, characterized by neurologic, joint, and cardiac manifestations. Lyme disease is carried by a tiny tick. It begins with a bite and a rash that can be so slight, you may not even notice. However, the consequences can be serious, sometimes fatal.

A bacterium called Bartonella Henselae is transmitted from ticks to cats via their feces. Once this bacterium is transmitted to the cat it can be easily passed on to a human via the saliva through a cat scratch, lick or bite. The disease associated with this bacterium is known as Cat Scratch Fever (disease). Although being called cat scratch fever this disease is more common in kittens as they maybe too young for flea treatments making them more susceptible to acquire the infected flea.