Borrelia - Classification, Morphology, Habitat, Medically significant species
Classification of Borrelia spp.
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Spirochaetota
Class: Spirochaetia
Order: Spirochaetales
Family: Borreliaceae
Genus: Borrelia
Morphology of Borrelia spp.
Morphologically, Borrelia spp. is a gram-negative spirochete measuring up to 3-30 μm x 0.2-0.5 μm. They are motile with endoflagella and have 3-10 loose, irregular coils.
It is stained with aniline dye such as Giemsa and wright stain while endoflagella is located beneath the outer membrane. The bacteria are microaerophilic or anaerobic.
Fig: Borrelia microscopy (Source: BioMed Central)
Habitat of Borrelia spp.
Some Borrelia spp. habitat as commensals on buccal and genital mucosa while some cause diseases in humans.
Medically significant species
Epidemic or louse-borne “relapsing fever” is caused by Borrelia recurrentis and is transmitted by soft-shelled ticks.
Endemic relapsing fever caused by as many as 15 species of Borrelia, which are medically important, including:
Borrelia duttoni
Borrelia parkeri
Borrelia henselae
Borrelia tunicatai
Lyme’s disease is caused by Borrelia burgadorferi (transmitted by hard-shelled tick).