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Lyme disease
or Lyme borreliosis is a bacterial infection caused by several species of
bacteria belonging to the genus Borrelia. These bacteria are maintained in
nature in the bodies of wild animals and transmitted from one animal to another
by tick bites. Humans and pets are incidental hosts to ticks. The early phase of
the disease begins at the site of the tick bite with an expanding ring of
redness which often resembles a bull's-eye, with a red ring surrounding a clear
area and a red center. Later it can affect the skin, joints, heart, and the
nervous system.
The body does
not maintain a natural immunity to the disease. Thus, a person can be
re-infected with the disease on subsequent tick bites.
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