[Lyme borreliosis]

Lyme borreliosis is a zoonotic disease transmitted by ticks and caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. There are cases of the infection reported at least since the beginning of last century, although a complete description of the disease is available only since 1982. Clinical presentation consists generally of a characteristic skin rash, known as erythema migrans, and a variety of systemic manifestations, which evolve in stages, along months to years. Diagnosis is usually made with serology tests, and the infection responds well to several antibiotics, especially if given in the early stages of the disease.