Borrelia burgdorferi

From WikiVet English
Revision as of 22:32, 16 December 2010 by Bara (talk | contribs) (Text replace - "[[Lyme disease" to "[[Lyme Disease")


Jump to navigation Jump to search


Borrelia burgdorferi
Phylum Spirochaetes
Class Spirochaetes
Order Spirochaetales
Family Spirochaetaceae
Genus Borrelia
Species B. burgdorferi


Borrelia burgdorferi. (CDC 1993, Wikimedia commons)


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. In the USA it is the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto that is the most common cause of canine Lyme disease.

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..

Literature Search

CABI logo.jpg


Use these links to find recent scientific publications via CAB Abstracts (log in required unless accessing from a subscribing organisation).


Borrelia burgdorferi publications since 2000