Borrelia

A genus of bacteria (family Treponemataceae) containing cells 8–16 μm in length, with coarse, shallow, irregular spirals and tapered, finely filamented ends. These organisms are parasitic on many forms of animal life, are generally hematophytic, or are found on mucous membranes; most are transmitted to animals or humans by the bites of arthropods. The type species is B. anserina. [A. Borrell]

- B. afzelii a bacterial genospecies of B. burgdorferi sensu lato causing Lyme disease in Europe and Asia; transmitted by the tick Ixodes ricinus in central and western Europe and by the tick Ixodes persulcatus in Eurasia from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean. SEE ALSO: B. burgdorferi sensu stricto.

- B. anserina a bacterial species that causes spirochetosis of fowls; found in the blood of infected geese, ducks, other fowl, and vector ticks; it is the type species of the genus B..

- B. burgdorferi a bacterial species causing Lyme disease in humans and borreliosis in dogs, cattle, and possibly horses. The vector transmitting this spirochete to humans is the ixodid tick, Ixodes dammini.

- B. burgdorferi sensu lato a bacterial complex causing Lyme disease that is composed of several genospecies including B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. garinii and B. afzelii.

- B. burgdorferi sensu stricto a bacterial genospecies of B. burgdorferi sensu lato causing Lyme disease in North America and Europe; transmitted by the tick Ixodes scapularis in the eastern and central United States, by the tick Ixodes pacificus in the western United States, and by the tick Ixodes ricinus in Europe. SEE ALSO: B. garinii.

- B. caucasica a bacterial species found as a cause of relapsing fever in the Caucasus; transmitted by Ornithodoros verrucosus.

- B. crocidurae a bacterial species that causes relapsing fever in North Africa, the Near East, and central Asia, and is transmitted by the small variety of the tick Ornithodoros erraticus.

- B. duttonii a bacterial species causing Central and South African relapsing fever; transmitted by a tick, Ornithodoros moubata.

- B. garinii a bacterial genospecies of B. burgdorferi sensu lato causing Lyme disease in Europe and Asia; transmitted by the tick Ixodes ricinus in central and western Europe and by the tick Ixodes persulcatus in Eurasia from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean. SEE ALSO: B. burgdorferi sensu stricto.

- B. hermsii a bacterial species found as a cause of relapsing fever in British Columbia, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington; transmitted by a tick, Ornithodoros hermsi.

- B. hispanica a bacterial species causing relapsing fever in Spain, Portugal, and northwest Africa, transmitted by the large variety of the tick Ornithodorus erratica.

- B. latyschewii a bacterial species that causes relapsing fever in Iran and central Asia; transmitted by the tick Ornithodoros tartakovskyi from rodents and reptiles.

- B. mazzottii a bacterial species that causes relapsing fever in Mexico and Central and South America; transmitted by the tick Ornithodoros talajé.

- B. parkeri a bacterial species found as a cause of relapsing fever in the western United States; transmitted by a tick, Ornithodoros parkeri.

- B. persica a bacterial species that causes relapsing fever in the Middle East and central Asia; the vector is the tick Ornithodoros tholozani.

- B. recurrentis a bacterial species causing relapsing fever in South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia; transmitted by the bedbug, Cimex lectularius, and the louse, Pediculus humanus humanus. SYN: Obermeier spirillum, Spirochaeta obermeieri.

- B. turicatae a bacterial species found as a cause of relapsing fever in Mexico, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas; transmitted by Ornithodoros turicata.

- B. venezuelensis a bacterial species causing spirochetal relapsing fever in Central and South America; transmitted by Ornithodoros rudis and O. venezuelensis.

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bor·re·lia bə-'rel-ē-ə, -'rē-lē- n

1) cap a genus of small flexible spirochetes of the family Spirochaetaceae that are parasites of humans and warm-blooded animals and include the causative agents of septicemia in chickens (B. recurrentis), relapsing fever in Africa (B. duttoni), and Lyme disease in the U.S. (B. burgdorferi)

2) a spirochete of the genus Borrelia

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n.

a genus of large parasitic spirochaete bacteria. The species B. duttonii, B. persica, and B. recurrentis cause relapsing fever in Africa, Asia, North America, and Europe. The species B. burgdorferi causes Lyme disease.

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Bor·rel·ia (bə-relґe-ə) [A. Borrel] a genus of bacteria of the family Spirochaetaceae, order Spirochaetales, made up of gram-negative, anaerobic, helical cells up to 1 μm wide by 20 μm long, with coarse, shallow, irregular coils surrounding a central fibrillar substance. The organisms are parasitic, living on mucous membranes, and are the cause of Lyme disease and relapsing fever.