Which pairing correctly matches the agent Borrelia recurrentis with its vector?

Which pairing correctly matches the agent Borrelia recurrentis with its vector?

• A. Borrelia recurrentis - human body louse
• B. Borrelia burgdorferi - ticks
• C. Treponema pallidum - fleas
• D. Leptospira interrogans - mosquitoes

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that certain relapsing fever bacteria are spread by arthropod vectors, specifically Borrelia recurrentis is transmitted by the human body louse. In louse-borne relapsing fever, spirochetes reside in the louse and are delivered to humans when louse feces contaminate a bite or skin scratch, allowing the bacteria to enter the bloodstream and cause fever episodes. This makes the pairing with the human body louse the correct match. For context, Borrelia burgdorferi, the cause of Lyme disease, is transmitted by ticks, not lice. Treponema pallidum is primarily spread through sexual contact, not fleas. Leptospira interrogans is typically transmitted via contact with urine from infected animals, often in water, not mosquitoes.

The main idea is that certain relapsing fever bacteria are spread by arthropod vectors, specifically Borrelia recurrentis is transmitted by the human body louse. In louse-borne relapsing fever, spirochetes reside in the louse and are delivered to humans when louse feces contaminate a bite or skin scratch, allowing the bacteria to enter the bloodstream and cause fever episodes. This makes the pairing with the human body louse the correct match.

For context, Borrelia burgdorferi, the cause of Lyme disease, is transmitted by ticks, not lice. Treponema pallidum is primarily spread through sexual contact, not fleas. Leptospira interrogans is typically transmitted via contact with urine from infected animals, often in water, not mosquitoes.