Borrelia burgdorferi

1. BP221506
Thulasinathan J
1st M.Sc Applied Microbiology

2. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
 Gram’s classification-Gram negative bacteria
 Shape – Thin, Spirally coiled Spirochetes (Bacilli)
 Motility – Motile (Twisting motility)
 Capsule – Absent
 Endospores – Absent
 Respiration –Slow growing Microaerophilic with Doubling time of 24 to 48
hours.
 Optimum Temperature - 30 °C to 37 °C
 Optimum pH – 7.4 to 7.6
 Incubation Period - 3 to 30 Days

4. PATHOGENESIS
Disease Transmission
 Epidemic Relapsing Fever is transmitted Person to person; Reservoir to
humans; Vector -human body Louse.
 Endemic Relapsing Fever is transmitted from Rodents to humans;
Reservoirs – Rodents, Small mammals and Soft ticks; Vector - soft ticks.
 Lyme Disease is transmitted by Hard ticks from Mice to Humans;
Reservoir - Mice, Deer and Ticks; Vectors include Ixodes scapularis,
Ixodes pacificus, Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus.

5. CLINICAL DISEASES
1) Lyme Disease
• Lyme disease begins as an early localized infection, progresses to an early
• disseminated stage, and, if untreated, can progress to a late manifestation stage.
Early Dissemination Stage of Lyme Disease
 Hematogenous dissemination will occur in untreated patients within days to
weeks of the primary infection.
 Severe fatigue,
 Headache,
 Fever and Malaise

6. CLINICAL DISEASES
Late-stage manifestations of Lyme disease
• Late-stage manifestations of Lyme disease in untreated
patients can develop months to years after the initial
infection.
• Arthritis can involve one or more joints intermittently.
• Chronic skin involvement with Discoloration and Swelling
is more common.

8. LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS
Microscopic examination
 Microscopy is the test of choice for diagnosis of relapsing fever by Giemsa
or Wright stained preparation of blood.
 Motility test – Motile Spirochetes are observed (Twisting motility).
Serology
 Immunofluorescence assay.
 Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA)

9. LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS
Molecular Diagnosis
• 16S rRNA sequencing
• Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Biochemical Characteristics
The biochemical characteristics of B. burgdorferi are have not
been studied yet due to the difficulty in growth and fastidious
nature of the bacteria.

10. TREATMENT AND PREVENTIVE
MEASURES
 For Relapsing fever, treatment is with Tetracycline or Erythromycin.
 For early Localized or Disseminated Lyme disease, treatment is with Amoxicillin,
Tetracycline, Cefuroxime.
 Late manifestations are treated with intravenous Penicillin or Ceftriaxone.
 Exposure to the Insect vector can be decreased by using insecticides and applying insect
repellents to clothing and by wearing protective clothing that reduces exposure of skin to insects.