Current and future treatment of Lyme disease

Lyme borreliosis, a tick-transmitted spirochetal disease, may begin with a characteristic expanding skin lesion at the site of the tick bite. Within several days to weeks, the infection can spread haematogenously to involve the heart, nervous system or the joints. After months to years, the spirochete may persist in these organs causing a chronic form of illness. All stages of this disease can be treatable with antimicrobial agents.