Battling Borrelia burgdorferi and mayonii: Know the ABCs of Lyme Disease

By Alyssa Frank • July 24, 2017

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In the United States, Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii bacteria, carried primarily by "black-legged" or "deer ticks." The ticks are brown and when young (often no bigger than a poppy seed), it makes them nearly impossible to spot.

To learn more about Lyme disease, the Mayo Clinic Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and its reference laboratory Mayo Medical Laboratories have developed “The ABCs of Lyme Disease” flash cards. These flash cards include information about symptoms, treatment, and other important facts.

“With some simple facts about Lyme disease, individuals can take the necessary precautions to reduce their chances of contracting the disease,” says Elli Theel, Ph.D., Co-Director of the Vector-Borne Diseases Laboratory Services at Mayo Clinic. “Our new online flash cards explain from A to Z what a person needs to know to stay safe this tick season."

Alyssa Frank

Alyssa Frank is a Marketing Segment Manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories. She leads marketing strategies for product management and specialty testing. Alyssa has worked at Mayo Clinic since 2015.