Borrelia burgdorferi and Lyme Disease

A set of vocabulary flashcards derived from lecture notes on Borrelia burgdorferi and Lyme disease, covering key terms, definitions, and critical concepts related to infection and disease progression.

Borrelia burgdorferi

A Gram-negative spirochete that is the causative agent of Lyme disease.

Gram-negative spirochete

A type of bacteria that has a thin peptidoglycan layer and does not retain the crystal violet stain used in the Gram-staining procedure.

Obligate parasite

An organism that can only live and reproduce within a host cell.

Microaerophilic

An organism that requires oxygen at lower than atmospheric concentrations.

Fastidious

Organisms that require particular nutritional or environmental conditions to grow.

Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly (BSK) medium

A specialized growth medium used for culturing Borrelia burgdorferi.

Periplasmic flagella

Flagella located in the periplasmic space of bacteria, allowing motility.

Life cycle of Borrelia burgdorferi

The cycle that involves transmission through ticks, with different stages feeding on various hosts.

Nymph stage

An immature tick stage that can transmit Lyme disease to humans and animals.

Binary fission

A method of asexual reproduction where a single organism divides into two parts.

Biofilm

A complex community of microorganisms adhering to surfaces, often formed as a stress response.

Symptoms of Lyme disease - Stage 1

Early localized disease characterized by muscle and joint pain, stiff neck, and flu-like symptoms.

Symptoms of Lyme disease - Stage 2

Early disseminated Lyme disease including Lyme carditis, facial paralysis, and neurological symptoms.

Symptoms of Lyme disease - Stage 3

Late disseminated Lyme disease resulting in joint arthritis, cognitive difficulties, and heart rhythm disturbances.

Post Treatment Lyme Disease (PTLD)

A condition some patients experience post-treatment for Lyme disease, often with lingering symptoms.

Prevention of Lyme disease

Strategies such as avoiding tick exposure and prompt removal of ticks to minimize infection risk.

Vector-borne illness

An illness transmitted through the bite of infected arthropods, such as ticks.

Antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi

Proteins produced by the immune system in response to the infection which may take weeks to be detectable.

Lyme disease

The most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the United States, first identified in Lyme, Connecticut.