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Lyme disease
(LD) is a multi-system bacterial infection caused by a the
spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). The pathogen
was named in honor of the discoverer and a founding board
member of the Lyme Disease Foundation, Willy Burgdorfer,
PhD, MD (hon).
Research has
proven that the bacterium that causes Lyme disease has been in
the U.S. for over 100 years.
These spirochetes
are maintained in nature in the bodies of wild animals and is
transmitted from one animal to another through the bite of an
infective tick. Humans and pets are incidental hosts to ticks.
The body does
not maintain a natural immunity to the disease. Thus, a person
can be reinfected with the disease on subsequent tick bites. |
