Lamiot [creativecommons license] via Wikimedia CommonsLyme disease, caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most prevalent arthropod-borne illness in the US. Disease severity varies greatly, with up to 60% of untreated patients developing a self-limiting, inflammatory arthritis. Even after appropriate antibiotic therapy, 10% of patients may develop chronic arthritis lasting months to years. The spectrum of arthritis severity among infected patients suggests that host genetics may contribute to pathogenic outcome.
Fluent in Science