Microbiology and Immunology 2500A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Ixodes Scapularis, Tick-Borne Disease, Lyme, Connecticut

• School: Western University
• Department: Microbiology and Immunology
• Course: Microbiology and Immunology 2500A/B
• Professor: Dimitrios J Dikeakos, John Mc Cormick, Kelly Lynn Summers

Document Summary

Commonly presents as skin lesions/bulls eye rash (erythema migrans) If untreated, can lead to arthritis, carditis (inflammation of the heart or its surrounding) and nervous system manifestations. Most common vector-borne disease in north america: vector = transmitted by something else. 1st recognized in 1975 in rural communities surrounding lyme, connecticut. Epidemic of polyarthritis (join inflammation in multiple joints) mostly in children. Most were misdiagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis: do not expect epidemic with rheumatoid arthritis (autoimmune disease) Many were noted to have a bulls eye 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) & long (>10 m), spiral shaped. Lyme borrelia are widely found throughout temperate zones in the northern hemisphere. Major cause of lyme disease in north america. Other species can cause lyme disease collectively called b. burgdorferi sensu lato.