Lyme Disease

Lyme Borreliosis

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Lyme disease is caused by spirochetal bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi and rarely, Borrelia mayonii. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system.

Endemic “Tropical” Treponematoses

A nonvenereal infectious disease caused by the spirochetal bacteria, Treponema pertenue, which is related to syphilis. Yaws is a disorder which is common in children and is characterized by skin and bone lesions. It is rarely found in the United States but is common among children in the humid tropics of Africa, South and Central America, the West Indies, and the Far East. See FDA’s Tropical Disease Priority Review Voucher Program for more information.

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Periodontal Disease

Many periodontal disease conditions such as: the early stage of periodontitis, acute pericoronitis (infection under the gum tissue covering a partially erupted tooth), as well as necrotising ulcerative gingivitis (severe inflammation of the gum more common in immunocompromised patients) are caused by Treponema denticola, a subgingival oral spirochete and Fusobacterium Nucleatum. Advanced disease is also known as Vincent’s disease, fusospirochetal gingivitis or Trench mouth

Adult and Congenital Syphilis

Congenital syphilis is caused by a spirochete bacteria (Treponema pallidum) and acquired by the fetus from the mother. Pregnant women with syphilis may have a reduction in estrogen while serum progesterone levels may increase. Symptoms may include inflammation of the umbilical chord, rash, fever, low birth weight, high levels of cholesterol, aseptic meningitis, anemia, monocytosis, enlarged liver and spleen, jaundice, shedding of skin on palms and soles, convulsions, mental retardation, periostitis, rhinitis, hair loss, inflammation of the eye’s iris and pneumonia.

Leptospirosis (Weil syndrome)

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease that affects humans and animals caused by the spirochetal bacteria, Leptospira. Humans become infected through contact with water, food or soil containing urine from infected animals such as dogs, cats, cattle, horses, pigs, and, especially, rodents. Symptoms include high fever, chills, muscle aches, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, and jaundice. Early detection is important as the disease can cause serious complications if not treated early, including kidney damage (nephrosis), meningitis (inflammation of the tissue around the brain or spinal cord), respiratory distress and/or liver failure.