The Mysterious Case of the Shape Shifting Spirochete

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Wednesday May 04, 2011 · 12:00 PM PDT

2011/05/04 · 12:00

For an introduction to Lyme disease see Welcome To Lyme Disease Awareness Month.

Spirochete Overview:

Spirochetes are a type of bacteria. Some spirochetes cause illnesses and some don’t. Some are found in humans and some aren’t. They are very slender and long and often look like corkscrews or spirals when viewed microscopically. They are difficult to see under a standard light microscope, so dark field microscopy must be used to view them. Spirochetes are also very difficult to grow in culture and some cannot be cultivated at all. Some spirochetes inhabit water environments, while others are parasites of arthropods (such as ticks and lice) as well as warm-blooded animals like us. Spirochetes that cause diseases include Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), the agent of Lyme disease, Treponema pallidum, the cause of syphilis, and Leptospira interrogans, the agent of leptospirosis.

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Tuesday May 18, 2010 · 1:01 PM PDT

2010/05/18 · 13:01

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Sunday May 16, 2010 · 12:00 PM PDT

2010/05/16 · 12:00

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Thursday May 13, 2010 · 4:14 PM PDT

2010/05/13 · 16:14

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Tuesday May 11, 2010 · 12:28 PM PDT

2010/05/11 · 12:28

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Tuesday May 04, 2010 · 8:45 AM PDT

2010/05/04 · 08:45

Poll

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How Prevalent are Tick-Borne Illnesses?

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How Prevalent are Tick-Borne Illnesses?

I have or had a tick-borne illness.

31 votes

My friend or family member has or had a tick-bornes illness.

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I've never known anyone with a tick-borne illness.

9 votes

WaPo: Ticked off, 'Lymies' challenge experts

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Wednesday April 21, 2010 · 5:07 PM PDT

2010/04/21 · 17:07

Countdown to Lyme Disease Awareness Month, May 2010

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Tuesday May 26, 2009 · 2:16 PM PDT

2009/05/26 · 14:16

Today's diary by: MsGrin LymeDiseaseAwareness

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Friday May 22, 2009 · 11:57 AM PDT

2009/05/22 · 11:57

Today's diary by: 42 LymeDiseaseAwareness

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Wednesday May 20, 2009 · 3:29 PM PDT

2009/05/20 · 15:29

Today's diary by: UnaSpenser

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Monday May 18, 2009 · 3:30 PM PDT

2009/05/18 · 15:30

Today's diary by: MsGrin

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Wednesday May 13, 2009 · 5:23 PM PDT

2009/05/13 · 17:23

Today's diary by: 42

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