Question

6. Describe the disease-causing pathogen for the disease you assayed for, including its mode f of transmission to people. by the outcome Write your reaction to the diagnosis of the patients you tested. Were you surprise of the test based on the scenarios provided? How do you think infection could have been prevented in the patients who tested positive? 7.

lyme disease

Answer 1

6. Lyme disease is a zoonotic disease transmitted from an animal reservoir, such as a mouse or squirrel, to a human. The means of transmission are arthropod vectors, specifically ticks. The causative agent of Lyme disease is the bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi. Borrelia burgdorferi is a spirochete that is approximately 20-30mm in length and .2-.3mm in width. The bacteria is not properly gram stained as it stains lightly by safranin stain hence darkfield microscopy is used to view it.

7. The disease gained importance in 1975 after a woman who lived in Lyme, Connecticut, the town for which the disease was named after, came down with an illness that displayed strange symptoms. he first sign of Borrelia burgdorferi infection is a rash that resembles a bulls-eye, known as erythema migrans. The rash occurs 3-30 days after the initial tick bite and is located around the bite.

Ticks thrive in wooded areas with an abundance of leaf litter; they are also prevalent in areas with tall grasses, therefore these areas should be avoided, especially during spring and summer months, which is when ticks are most active. If the situation is unavoidable then clothing wore should be such that, there may be no contact with the long leaves, like wearing full sleeves shirt and full pants.  After spending time in wooded areas, one should check themselves thoroughly for ticks. If a tick is found it should be removed with tweezers.

If an infection occurs antibiotics, such as doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime, are administered orally as a treatment for Lyme disease.