Lyme disease is caused by which bacterium transmitted to humans through tick bites?

Lyme disease is caused by which bacterium transmitted to humans through tick bites?

• A. Borrelia burgdorferi
• B. Borrelia recurrentis
• C. Rickettsia rickettsii
• D. Treponema pallidum

Answer: (A)

Lyme disease is caused by a spirochete bacterium that humans typically acquire from tick bites. The organism most closely associated with Lyme disease is Borrelia burgdorferi. It’s a corkscrew-shaped bacterium that travels through the body and can cause a characteristic expanding skin rash (erythema migrans) along with flu-like symptoms; if not treated, it can involve joints, the nervous system, and the heart. Other organisms listed are responsible for different diseases. Borrelia recurrentis causes relapsing fever and is usually transmitted by lice rather than ticks. Rickettsia rickettsii causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever and is tick-borne but is a different genus with its own distinct disease features. Treponema pallidum causes syphilis and is primarily transmitted through sexual contact, not tick bites. Therefore, the bacterium associated with Lyme disease specifically is Borrelia burgdorferi.

Lyme disease is caused by a spirochete bacterium that humans typically acquire from tick bites. The organism most closely associated with Lyme disease is Borrelia burgdorferi. It’s a corkscrew-shaped bacterium that travels through the body and can cause a characteristic expanding skin rash (erythema migrans) along with flu-like symptoms; if not treated, it can involve joints, the nervous system, and the heart.

Other organisms listed are responsible for different diseases. Borrelia recurrentis causes relapsing fever and is usually transmitted by lice rather than ticks. Rickettsia rickettsii causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever and is tick-borne but is a different genus with its own distinct disease features. Treponema pallidum causes syphilis and is primarily transmitted through sexual contact, not tick bites.

Therefore, the bacterium associated with Lyme disease specifically is Borrelia burgdorferi.