Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is caused by a dangerous bacteria belonging to the genus Borrelia. Genus Borrelia contains 3 species of bacteria which include Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia afzelii, and Borrelia garinii. Borrelia burgdorferi is responsible for Lyme disease in North America, while Borreli afzelii and Borrelia garinii cause the most Lyme disease cases in Europe. The name Lyme was given to the disease because the first number of outbreaks was monitored in Lyme, Connecticut in 1975. The disease itself has always been classified as tick-borne disease, but its causes were never identified by any studies on it. However, this mystery was solved in 1978 with the discovery of the B. burgdorferi which was the work of Willy Burgdorfer. Lyme disease is classified as perhaps the known tick-borne diseases exist. It is transmitted to humans with the bite of infected ticks that are found in the genus Ixodes class. Lyme disease attacks its victims by causing fatigue, fever, headache, depression, and migraine. Furthermore, if this attack is left untreated, Lyme can attack the nervous system, joints, and heart. Antibiotics are a successful mean to treat Lyme disease.