Description
Borrelia burgdorferi is a Gram-negative spirochete bacteria that is well known as the causative agent of Lyme disease.
Lyme disease is a zoonotic, vector-borne disease transmitted by the Ixodes tick (also the vector for Babesia and Anaplasma). The infected nymphal tick transmits B. burgdorferi via its saliva to the human during its blood meal.
Clinical presentation of Lyme disease is best known for the characteristic bull’s-eye rash (also known as erythema chronicum migrans) but can also include myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, arrythmia, arthritis, arthralgia, meningitis, neuropathies, and facial nerve palsy depending on the stage of infection.