Osmosis video - Borrelia species (Relapsing fever)

Borrelia species are gram-negative spirochetes that cause relapsing fever. The characteristic feature of relapsing fever is the cyclical pattern of fever and afebrile periods. Transmission of Borrelia to humans generally occurs through the bite of an infected vector, commonly a tick or a louse. Lyme disease is the most common presentation of Borreliosis. Symptoms can include fever, headache, myalgia, and arthralgia. Borrelia burgdorferi is the primary causative agent of Lyme disease. Untreated Lyme disease can lead to neurologic sequelae, including meningitis and encephalitis.