The etiologic agent of Lyme disease is:

The etiologic agent of Lyme disease is:

• A. Borrelia burgdorferi
• B. Coronavirus
• C. Lentivirus
• D. Pasteurella multocida

Answer: (A)

Lyme disease is caused by a tick-borne spirochete bacterium. The organism responsible is Borrelia burgdorferi, a corkscrew-shaped bacterium transmitted by Ixodes ticks. It is the primary etiologic agent identified in this disease, especially in the United States, though related Borrelia species can cause disease in other regions. The other listed organisms do not cause Lyme disease: coronaviruses are responsible for viral respiratory infections, lentiviruses are a group of retroviruses like HIV, and Pasteurella multocida is an animal-bite-associated bacterium. Therefore, Borrelia burgdorferi best fits as the etiologic agent.

Lyme disease is caused by a tick-borne spirochete bacterium. The organism responsible is Borrelia burgdorferi, a corkscrew-shaped bacterium transmitted by Ixodes ticks. It is the primary etiologic agent identified in this disease, especially in the United States, though related Borrelia species can cause disease in other regions. The other listed organisms do not cause Lyme disease: coronaviruses are responsible for viral respiratory infections, lentiviruses are a group of retroviruses like HIV, and Pasteurella multocida is an animal-bite-associated bacterium. Therefore, Borrelia burgdorferi best fits as the etiologic agent.