Lyme Disease Organism, Borrelia Burgdorferi

Borrelia burgdorferi is a spirochete similar to spirochetes of other diseases, such as relapsing fever and syphilis. This organism causes Lyme Disease. (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.)

Deer Ticks

Diseases are often carried by ticks, including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Colorado Tick Fever, Lyme disease, and tularemia. Less common or less frequent diseases include typhus, Q-fever, relapsing fever, viral encephalitis, hemorrhagic fever, and babesiosis.

Ticks

There are many species of ticks. Of these, a large proportion are capable of carrying disease. Diseases carried by ticks include Lyme disease, Erlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Colorado Tick Fever, tularemia, typhus, Q fever, hemorrhagic fever, and viral encephalitis. (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.)

Lyme Disease - Borrelia Burgdorferi Organism

Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium known as a spirochete because of its long, corkscrew shape. The infectious organism is named Borrelia burgdorferi. The photomicrograph shows the typical corkscrew appearance of a spirochete. (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.)

Tertiary Lyme Disease

Tertiary Lyme disease is a late, persistant inflammatory disease characterized by skin changes, neurological and musculoskeletal symptoms caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted by the bite of a deer tick. Tertiary Lyme disease is indicated by chronic arthritis.

Tick Imbedded in the Skin

This is a close-up photograph of a tick embedded in the skin. Ticks are important because they can carry diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, Colorado tick fever, Lyme disease, and others.