Borrelia

Abstract

Borrelia species constitute a heterogeneous group of organisms that are maintained in nature in animal reservoirs and are transmitted via arthropod vectors. Borrelia species are agents of relapsing fever (RF), caused by the RF Borrelia group, and Lyme disease, caused by the Lyme borreliosis (LB) Borrelia group. A hallmark of Borrelia species is a segmented genome consisting of a linear chromosome and a mix of linear and circular plasmids. Although members of LB group of Borrelia have similar characteristics, they vary in their ability to cause disease in humans as well as in clinical manifestations. Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans is a common late manifestation of LB in Europe. RF Borrelia can be detected in peripheral blood with blood films prepared from blood collected with EDTA. Variable major protein‐like sequences expressed is one of the most specific Borrelia burgdorferi antigens and has high significance in LB serology.