Lyme disease is caused by which organism?

Prepare for the NBME Microbiology Test. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each query comes with hints and detailed explanations. Ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

Lyme disease is caused by which organism?

Explanation:
Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a corkscrew-shaped spirochete transmitted by Ixodes ticks. This organism is distinct from Leptospira interrogans (leptospirosis), Treponema pallidum (syphilis), and Rickettsia rickettsii (Rocky Mountain spotted fever), which produce different diseases. Recognizing Borrelia burgdorferi as the Lyme pathogen helps connect the tick exposure and erythema migrans presentation to the correct causative agent, with serologic testing aiding diagnosis and doxycycline as a common early treatment.

Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a corkscrew-shaped spirochete transmitted by Ixodes ticks. This organism is distinct from Leptospira interrogans (leptospirosis), Treponema pallidum (syphilis), and Rickettsia rickettsii (Rocky Mountain spotted fever), which produce different diseases. Recognizing Borrelia burgdorferi as the Lyme pathogen helps connect the tick exposure and erythema migrans presentation to the correct causative agent, with serologic testing aiding diagnosis and doxycycline as a common early treatment.

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