Lyme disease - Borrelia burgdorferi organism

Lyme disease is caused when a person is bitten by a tick infected with bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. These bacteria are known as spirochetes because of their long, corkscrew shape. This photograph shows the typical corkscrew appearance of a spirochete. Other types of spirochete bacteria cause diseases such as syphilis and leptospirosis. After a person is bitten by an infected tick, the bacteria spread from the skin through the bloodstream to other organs. The skin, nervous system, joints, heart, and eyes are most often affected. (Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)

Review Date: 3/16/2024
Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Roy and Diana Vagelos Professor in Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, New York, NY. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.