pain numbness weakness conjunctivitis
The mid-70s, Children in Lyme, CT
arthritis
In the mid-70s, Children in Lyme, CT
arthritis
rash
The mid-70s, Children in Lyme, CT
arthritis
rash
conjunctivitis
The mid-70s, Children in Lyme, CT
arthritis
rash
conjunctivitis
fatigue/fever headache stiff neck
The mid-70s, Children in Lyme, CT
arthritis
rash
pain numbness weakness
conjunctivitis
fatigue/fever headache stiff neck
Mid-70s, Children in Lyme, CT
arthritis
facial paralysis
rash
pain numbness weakness
conjunctivitis
fatigue/fever headache stiff neck
Mid-70s, Children in Lyme, CT
arthritis
facial paralysis
rash
pain numbness weakness
conjunctivitis
fatigue/fever headache stiff neck
cardiac and/or neurological symptoms
What caused this illness?
Early 1980’s: the gram-negative bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi
Identification of Borrelia as causative agent of Lyme disease
• Isolate single colonies of Borrelia from ticks • Grow up colonies, feed to ticks • Let ticks bite rabbits • See rash • Isolate Borrelia from people with Lyme
disease
How were the children exposed to this bacterium?
Dime
Photos by John VanDyk, Iowa State Univ.
How were the children exposed to this bacterium?
Dime
Photos by John VanDyk, Iowa State Univ.
…via tick saliva (yuck!)
Tick after feeding….
Must feed for at least 24 hours to pass on Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria to its host
How did ticks get infected with Borrelia bergdorferi?
?
How did ticks get infected with Borrelia bergdorferi?
How did ticks get infected with Borrelia bergdorferi?
reservoirs
Life cycle of Borrelia burgdorferi in the tick (Ixodes)
What we’ve discussed so far…
Lyme disease is NOT a new disease
• 1883 Lyme-related symptoms reported in Germany
• 1909 Linked Lyme-related symptoms with tick bites in Sweden
• ~1950 Treat symptoms with antibiotics in Europe
• 1970 First tick-related rash reported in USA
2002 Lyme Disease Cases by State as Reported to CDC n=23,763
