Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026

Feeding of Ticks on Animals for Transmission and Xenodiagnosis in Lyme Disease Research
Published on: August 31, 2013
Epidemiology and Diagnosis of Lyme Disease in the United States
Marisa C Nielsen1, Nancy S Miller1
1Clinical Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.
Abstract:
Lyme disease, also referred to as Lyme borreliosis (LB), is an infection caused by tick-borne spirochetes in the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l) complex and is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Nonspecific clinical manifestations, pathogen persistence, immune system evasion, species-dependent tropism, and inherent limitations of current diagnostic assays, have all contributed to the diagnostic challenges associated with LB. This review presents a succinct summary of LB epidemiology, current recommended testing strategies, available technologies, and the future directions of LB diagnostics in the United States.
Related Concept Videos
Introduction to Epidemiology
Bacterial Phylum Spirochaetes
Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence
Investigation of Disease Outbreaks
Encephalitis l: Introduction
Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology

