Researchers have uncovered a new type of bacteria that can cause Lyme disease in humans. Previously, only one bacteria was known to cause this disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Borrelia mayonii is the new bacteria that can cause Lyme disease. As of now, the bacteria has only been detected in the upper Midwest region of the country.
Previously, only Borrelia burgdorferi is the only known bacteria that can cause the Lyme disease. Humans contract the bacteria when they get bitted by the black-legged "deer" tick.
The current finding was generated after researchers studied the blood samples of patients in Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota. These patients were suspected of having Lyme disease from 2012 to 2014,. The CDC found six out of 9,000 patients having unusual results in their blood samples, prompting further research why.
Both Borrelia mayonii and borrelia burgdorferi can cause fever, headache, rash, neck pain, as well as later arthritis. However, the new bacteria can cause nausea, vomiting, and widespread rash. It can also lead to higher concentration of bacteria in the patients' blood.
The good news is that the new bacteria can be treated with the same antibiotics used for the old bacteria. Unfortunately, the current findings are too limited to say whether the new bacteria can be more risky for the patients than the old bacteria.
According to Jeannine Petersen, a CDC microbiologist, it is too early to say. "We have fairly limited information in that our study described six patients," she told Reuters. "We need more patients in order to capture the full spectrum of those who might have less severe symptoms and those who might have more severe ones," she added.