Where is borrelia burgdorferi found

Ask your veterinarian to conduct a tick check at each exam. Talk to your veterinarian about tickborne diseases in your area. Talk with your veterinarian about using tick preventives on your pet. There is only a very small chance of ticks transmitting Lyme disease to humans.

However, the disease can be serious, so it is worth taking steps to avoid being bitten. To protect yourself against tick and insect bites: Walk on cleared trails wherever possible when walking in tall grassy areas, or forested areas.

Wear light coloured clothing so you can see ticks, tuck your top into your pants and tuck your pants into your boots or socks.

Reapply as frequently as directed on the container. When leaving an area where ticks may be found: Take a bath or shower to remove loosely attached ticks Check your entire body for attached ticks including the scalp, folds of skin, under the arms, behind the knees.

Have someone help you check hard-to-see areas. If a tick is found, remove it immediately see below for instructions. Check children, pets and outdoor gear for ticks. Put clothing in a hot dryer for 10 minutes to kill any remaining ticks.

Tick removal. If you find a tick: remove the tick yourself; get someone else to remove the tick for you when you can't reach it or see it clearly ; or get your healthcare provider to remove it. How NOT to remove a tick! If you decide to remove the tick yourself, follow the instructions below.

When should you remove the tick? When should you get a doctor to remove the tick? How to remove a tick Remove the tick right away if possible, wear disposable gloves when handling an engorged tick : Use tweezers or forceps to gently get hold of the tick as close to the skin as possible. Don't touch the tick with your hands. Without squeezing the tick, steadily lift it straight off the skin. Avoid jerking it out. Try to make sure that all of the tick is removed.

Once the tick has been removed, clean the bite area with soap and water, then disinfect the wound with antiseptic cream. Wash your hands with soap and water. Tick identification and testing. There are several ways for BC residents to have a tick identified and tested for Lyme disease: Submit a photo to the eTick program for tick identification Visit a healthcare provider if tick is found on a human Visit a veterinarian if the a tick is found on an animal 1.

Submit a photo of the tick to eTick. Below is a breakdown of the different types of Lyme Borrelia scientists have discovered so far. This broad classification of Lyme-causing Borrelia includes many species and strains of Lyme-causing Borrelia , including:. The Lyme-causing bacteria was first discovered in by scientist Willy Burgdorfer, and subsequently named after him: Borrelia burgdorferi. When scientists refer to the species Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto , they are referring to one of two strains in this species: B.

Transmitted by the black-legged tick , it is the predominant species in North America but is also common in Europe. Discovered in , B. Until recently , these were the three primary species of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato recognized by scientists. However, at least 18 distinct classifications of Lyme-causing bacteria have since been discovered.

New species and strains of Lyme-causing Borrelia continue to be discovered, underscoring the importance of diagnostic testing that is capable of picking up multiple species and strains.

A separate but related group of Borrelia is responsible for what are known as relapsing fever diseases. TBRF Borrelia differ from Lyme Borrelia in that they are mostly transmitted by soft ticks, which feed and transmit disease much more quickly than the hard ticks that spread Lyme. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection primarily transmitted by Ixodes ticks, also known as deer ticks or blacklegged ticks. These tiny arachnids are typically found in wooded and grassy areas. Although people may think of Lyme as an East Coast disease, it is found throughout the United States, as well as in more than sixty other countries.

However, because diagnosing Lyme can be difficult, many people who actually have Lyme may be misdiagnosed with other conditions. Many experts believe the true number of cases is much higher.

Lyme disease affects people of all ages. The CDC notes that it is most common in children, older adults, and others such as firefighters and park rangers who spend time in outdoor activities and have higher exposure to ticks.

Check Your Symptoms. Image of B. Courtesy of Dr. Eva Sapi. Lyme disease is caused by a spirochete—a corkscrew-shaped bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi.

It can affect any organ of the body, including the brain and nervous system, muscles and joints, and the heart. Skip to content Lyme disease is caused by a number of different strains and species of Borrelia bacteria, generally Borrelia burgdorferi in the United States and Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii in Europe.

Unique Properties The bacteria, known as spirochetes for their unique corkscrew shape and twisting propulsion, are slow to replicate and one of few bacteria that have learned to survive without iron , instead relying on a supply of manganese for their survival lending to potential treatment strategies intending to starve the bacteria of manganese.

Borrelia in the Body Borrelia bacteria are transmitted to humans through the bite of a tick see What Causes Lyme Disease for more information. Image courtesy of Emily M.