This spirochete causes a characteristic annular rash, arthritis, carditis, and in late stages, encephalopathy. National Institutes of Health (.gov) Why Is Lyme Disease So Hard to Treat?
The bacterium lives in the midgut of certain ticks—primarily the (deer tick) in the Northeast and Midwest, and the western blacklegged tick on the Pacific Coast. borrelia burgdorferi
It can change its outer surface proteins to "camouflage" itself, staying one step ahead of your body's antibodies. It can change its outer surface proteins to
The Stealthy Invader: Understanding Borrelia burgdorferi Borrelia burgdorferi is the primary bacterium responsible for in North America . This spiral-shaped "spirochete" is a master of adaptation, designed to survive and thrive within both ticks and human hosts. 1. How It Spreads A "Smart" Bacterium
If left untreated, the infection can move through different stages: Borrelia Burgdorferi - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - NIH
Most humans are infected by nymphs —immature ticks about the size of a poppy seed, which are incredibly difficult to spot. 2. A "Smart" Bacterium