Following is a list of causes or underlying conditions (see also Misdiagnosis of underlying causes of Lyme disease) that could possibly cause Lyme disease includes:
Other conditions that might have Lyme disease as a complication may, potentially, be an underlying cause of Lyme disease. Our database lists the following as having Lyme disease as a complication of that condition:
Causes: Lyme disease:
Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria usually spread by deer ticks.
Article excerpts about the
causes of Lyme disease:
The ticks most commonly infected with B. burgdorferi usually feed and mate on deer during the adult part of their life cycle. The recent resurgence of the deer population in the northeast and the influx of suburban developments into rural areas where deer ticks are commonly found have probably contributed to the disease's rising prevalence. (Source: excerpt from Lyme Disease - The Facts, The Challenge: NIAID)
Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi . These bacteria are transmitted to humans by the bite of infected deer ticks and cause more than 16,000 infections in the United States each year. (Source: excerpt from CDC Lyme Disease Home Page: DVBID)
Black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis ) are responsible for transmitting Lyme disease bacteria to humans in the northeastern and north-central United States. On the Pacific Coast, the bacteria are transmitted to humans by the western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus). Ixodes ticks are much smaller than common dog and cattle ticks. In their larval and nymphal stages, they are no bigger than a pinhead. Ticks feed by inserting their mouths into the skin of a host and slowly take in blood. Ixodes ticks are most likely to transmit infection after feeding for two or more days. (Source: excerpt from CDC Lyme Disease Home Page: DVBID)
Immature ticks become infected by feeding on small rodents, such as the white-footed mouse, and other mammals that are infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi . In later stages, these ticks then transmit the Lyme disease bacterium to humans and other mammals during the feeding process. Lyme disease bacteria are maintained in the blood systems and tissues of small rodents. (Source: excerpt from Questions and Answers About Lyme Disease: DVBID)
Borrelia burgdorferi is a spirochetal bacterium transmitted by the bite of Ixodes ticks. The ticks, Ixodes scapularis (black-legged tick) and Ixodes pacificus (western black-legged tick), are the primary carriers of Lyme disease. I. scapularis is found in abundance in the northeastern and upper-Midwestern United States. I. pacificus is commonly found along the coasts of northern California, Oregon, and Washington. (Source: excerpt from Facts About Lyme Disease: CDC-OC)
The following medical news items are relevant to causes of Lyme disease:
As with all medical conditions, there may be many causal factors. Further relevant information on causes of Lyme disease may be found in:
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the causes of Lyme disease.
Lyme disease occurs when a tick injects spirochete-laden saliva into the bloodstream. After incubating for 3 to 32 days, the spirochetes migrate out to the skin, causing ECM. Then they disseminate to other skin sites or organs via the bloodstream or lymph system. They may survive for years in the joints, or they may trigger an inflammatory response in the host and then die.
Initially, Lyme disease was identified in a group of children in Lyme, Connecticut. Now it's known to occur primarily in three parts of the United States: in the northeast, from Massachusetts to Maryland; in the Midwest, in Wisconsin and Minnesota; and in the west, in California and Oregon. Although it's endemic to these areas, cases have been reported in all 50 states and in 20 other countries, including Germany, Switzerland, France, and Australia.
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Lyme disease occurs when a tick injects spirochete-laden saliva into the bloodstream or deposits fecal matter on the skin. After incubating for 3 to 32 days, the spirochetes migrate out to the skin, causing ECM. Then they disseminate to other skin sites or organs by the bloodstream or lymph system.
The spirochetes’ life cycle isn’t completely clear: They may survive for years in the joints or they may trigger an inflammatory response in the host and then die.
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
What do you think about the features of this website? Take our user survey and have your say:
Next articles:
Tools & Services:
Medical Articles:
Search Specialists by State and City
By using this site you agree to our Terms of Use. Information provided on this site is for informational purposes only; it is not intended as a substitute for advice from your own medical team. The information on this site is not to be used for diagnosing or treating any health concerns you may have - please contact your physician or health care professional for all your medical needs. Please see our Terms of Use.
Copyright © 2009 Health Grades Inc. All rights reserved.
Public awareness about Lyme disease has heightened in recent years and people in high-risk areas know to look for the telltale bull's-eye rash....
If you are infected with Lyme disease, early treatment is crucial for preventing permanent damage. How are the symptoms and complications of Lyme...
Lyme disease -- an infection which can lead to arthritis and other more serious complications -- is spread by tiny deer ticks commonly found in the...
For most people, arthritis means simply pain in or around a joint. But there are over 100 different kinds of arthritis, each with its own set of...