WHAT IS BORRELIA BURGDORFERI?

back to glossary >>

Borrelia burgdorferi is a spirochete bacterium and the primary cause of Lyme disease in North America. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected Ixodes (black-legged or deer) tick. Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common tick-borne disease in the United States, with thousands of cases reported annually.

This bacterium has a complex life cycle that involves both small mammals (like mice) and ticks. Once inside the human body, Borrelia burgdorferi can spread rapidly and affect multiple organ systems, leading to flu-like symptoms, neurological issues, joint pain, and chronic fatigue if left untreated.

How is Borrelia burgdorferi Transmitted?

Borrelia burgdorferi is transmitted to humans primarily through the bite of an infected Ixodes scapularis (black-legged tick in the eastern U.S.) or Ixodes pacificus (western black-legged tick in the western U.S.).

The transmission process typically follows these steps:

Tick Attachment: A tick carrying Borrelia burgdorferi attaches to a human host and begins feeding.
Bacterial Transfer: After being attached for 36–48 hours, the bacterium migrates from the tick’s gut to its salivary glands and enters the human bloodstream.
Spread Through the Body: Once inside, Borrelia burgdorferi can travel via the bloodstream and invade tissues, affecting the nervous system, joints, heart, and skin.

Ticks acquire Borrelia burgdorferi from feeding on infected small mammals, particularly white-footed mice, which act as natural reservoirs for the bacteria.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease Caused by Borrelia burgdorferi

The symptoms of Lyme disease progress in stages but vary widely among individuals. Some people experience mild symptoms, while others develop chronic, debilitating illness.

Early Localized Stage (Days to Weeks After a Tick Bite)

Erythema migrans (EM) rash – A bullseye-shaped rash that appears in about 70-80% of cases.
Flu-like symptoms – Fever, chills, headaches, muscle aches, and fatigue.
Swollen lymph nodes – A sign of the immune system reacting to infection.

Early Disseminated Stage (Weeks to Months After Infection)

Neurological symptoms – Numbness, tingling, facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy), headaches, or meningitis.
Joint pain and swelling – Often affecting large joints like the knees.
Heart issues (Lyme carditis) – Can cause irregular heartbeat (heart palpitations or AV block).

Late Disseminated Stage (Months to Years After Infection)

Chronic arthritis – Persistent joint inflammation, particularly in the knees.
Severe neurological problems – Memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and neuropathy.
Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) – Ongoing symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and joint pain even after treatment.

Since Lyme disease symptoms overlap with other infections and autoimmune diseases, accurate testing for Borrelia burgdorferi is crucial.

Learn more about Lyme disease testing.

How is Borrelia burgdorferi Diagnosed?

Standard Lyme disease testing detects antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi, but because these antibodies take time to develop, early infections may yield false-negative results.

Since Lyme disease can persist in low levels or evade immune detection, comprehensive co-infection testing is often recommended.

Treatment for Borrelia burgdorferi Infection

Lyme disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi is treated with antibiotics, but treatment success depends on early detection and intervention.

Standard Treatment Protocols

Early Lyme Disease:
- Doxycycline (10–21 days)
- Amoxicillin (for children or pregnant women)
- Cefuroxime (alternative to doxycycline)
Neurological Lyme Disease or Lyme Carditis:
- Intravenous (IV) Ceftriaxone for severe cases
Late-Stage or Chronic Lyme Disease:
- Extended antibiotic courses may be needed, though treatment approaches remain debated.
- Some patients explore herbal protocols or immune-supportive therapies under medical supervision.

Because Borrelia burgdorferi can persist in tissues, some individuals experience post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), where symptoms linger despite completing antibiotics.

Borrelia burgdorferi and Co-Infections

Ticks rarely transmit only Borrelia burgdorferi. Many Lyme disease patients also have co-infections, such as:

Babesia (a malaria-like parasite causing night sweats and severe fatigue)
Bartonella (a bacterial co-infection linked to neurological symptoms and psychiatric issues)
Anaplasma/Ehrlichia (bacterial infections causing flu-like symptoms and blood abnormalities)

These co-infections can complicate diagnosis and treatment, making co-infection testing essential.

Check out AcuDart Health’s co-infection testing panels.

Preventing Borrelia burgdorferi Infection

Since Borrelia burgdorferi is tick-borne, tick prevention strategies are critical:

Avoid tick habitats – Stay on trails and avoid tall grass and leaf litter.
Wear protective clothing – Light-colored clothing makes ticks easier to spot.
Use tick repellents – DEET and permethrin-treated clothing reduce risk.
Perform daily tick checks – Pay close attention to warm, hidden areas like the scalp, groin, and behind the knees.
Shower after outdoor exposure – This helps remove unattached ticks.

Since ticks must remain attached for 36+ hours to transmit Borrelia burgdorferi, early removal significantly reduces infection risk.

Key Takeaways

Borrelia burgdorferi is the spirochete bacterium that causes Lyme disease.
It is transmitted by black-legged ticks and can spread throughout the body, affecting the skin, joints, heart, and nervous system.
Symptoms progress in stages, with early signs including a bullseye rash and flu-like illness, and later stages causing neurological, cardiac, and joint complications.
Diagnosis relies on testing, but early infections may be difficult to detect.
Treatment includes antibiotics, with doxycycline being the most common choice for early disease.
Co-infections like Babesia and Bartonella can make Lyme disease symptoms more severe and harder to treat.
Tick bite prevention is essential to reduce the risk of Borrelia burgdorferi infection.

For comprehensive Lyme disease and co-infection testing, visit AcuDart Health. If you suspect Lyme disease, consult a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment.

Shop All Tick-Borne Disease Tests

Front of Package for AcuDart Tick-Borne Disease At-Home Screening Test Panel

Back of Package for AcuDart At-Home Screening Tests

Package Contents of AcuDart At-Home Screening Tests

AcuDart Tick-Borne Disease Screening Test Panel

Sample AcuDart Tick-Borne Disease At-Home Screening Test Panel Results Report

AcuDart Tick-Borne Disease Screening Test Panel

$499.00

$596.00

Tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease, Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF), Babesiosis, and Bartonellosis share overlapping symptoms, making diagnosis difficult without comprehensive testing. Because these infections can mimic each other, relying on a single test for one disease may lead to missed or delayed diagnoses. That’s why AcuDart offers the most accurate and reliable tick-borne disease testing available.

Unlike standard tests from commercial labs like LabCorp or Quest, which typically screen for just one or two species per disease, the AcuDart Tick-Borne Disease Test Panel is designed for maximum accuracy and coverage. It detects 19 species across four major tick-borne diseases, making it the most comprehensive tick panel on the market. Whether you're experiencing persistent symptoms or have been exposed to ticks, AcuDart's tick-borne disease panel provides the most thorough and precise testing to help you get the right diagnosis and treatment faster.

Quantity