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Borrelia burgdorferi is a species of Borrelia bacteria. Borrelia species are longer, wider, helical spirochaetes.
The Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex is the cause of Lyme disease.
- Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, the most common cause of canine Lyme disease in the USA.
The bacteria are reported to infect humans, dogs, horses, cattle, sheep.
Bacteria may be cultured in Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly medium after 6 weeks under microaerophilic conditions. The best samples for culture are skin samples from near to the site of tick attachment (as the bacteria remain within the local connective tissues) but the test is not sensitive as the bacteria will be present in low numbers.
Ticks are the vector for Lyme disease, in particular, Ixodes spp..