Question

Lyme disease and syphilis are both caused by spirochete bacteria. These bacteria behave similarly when inside the human body, in part due to their morphology. Identify some commonalities in terms of disease progression for Lyme disease and syphilis.

Answer 1

Lyme disease and Syphilis are both caused by Spirochetes. Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and Syphilis is caused by Treponema pallidum. Spirochetes enter the body through minute abrasions on the mucosa or skin. The Lyme disease is transmitted by the bite of Ixodid ticks.

Both the bacteria are similar in morphology and are of same family Spirochetes. In Syphilis and Lyme disease the Disease progression occurs through different stages. The disease progress in both the disease occurs through primary, secondary and tertiary stages. ( Note : Syphilis has a latent stage after secondary stage where no symptoms are visible).

Primary stage of Syphilis infection is the chancre or lesion at the site of entry of spirochete and in Lyme disease a circular rash appear at the site of tick bite.

Secondary stages of Syphilis and Lyme disease are characterized by fever, rashes ( rashes in sole and palm in Syphilis), headache, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes.

Tertiary stages in both disease occur when the disease is left untreated. Tertiary syphilis cause destructive lesion on skin and bones and in Lyme disease tertiary stage cause arthritis and joint pain.