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Characteristics
Morphology Spriochete, spiral-shaped bacteria.
Disease

Causes Lyme disease, Lyme borreliosis, relapsing fever, Erythema migrans (EM) with polyarthritis, Lyme arthritis, Tickborne meningopolyneuritis.
Zoonosis

Yes.
Health Hazards
Host Range Humans, equine, domestic fowl, domestic companion animals, deer, wild rodents.
Modes of Transmission
Exposure to an infected tick.
Signs and Symptoms 

Distinctive skin lesion (EM, a red macule or papule that expands in an annular manner), systemic symptoms, polyarthritis, and neurologic and cardiac involvement; malaise, fatigue, fever, headache, stiff neck, mylagia, migratory arthralgias or lympadenopathy lasting several weeks and may precede lesions; neurological and cardiac abnormalities weeks to months after onset of EM; chronic arthritis may develop.
Infectious Dose  unknown
Incubation Period  3-32 days after tick exposure.
Medical Precautions/Treatment
Prophylaxis
Not generally warranted for a tick bite alone.
Vaccines
Recombinant outer-surface protein A vaccine (LYMErixT).
Treatment Treatment of EM stage with doxycycline for adults and amoxicillin for children may prevent or lessen the severity of the major late cardiac, neurologic or arthritic complications.
Surveillance
Monitor for appearance of typical lesions; serological tests (IFA, ELISA).
MSU Requirements
Report any exposures.
Laboratory Hazards
Laboratory Acquired Infections (LAIs)
None have been reported.
 Sources
Clinical specimens - blood, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, skin scrapings, retinal and synovial specimens; naturally or experimentally infected mammals, their ectoparasites and their infected tissues. Cultures, frozen stocks, other samples described in IBC protocol.
Supplemental References
BMBL
 https://www.cdc.gov/labs/bmbl/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/labs/BMBL.html
Canada PSDS
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/laboratory-biosafety-biosecurity/pathogen-safety-data-sheets-risk-assessment/borrelia-burgdorferi-material-safety-data-sheets-msds.html
NIH Guidlines
https://osp.od.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/NIH_Guidelines.pdf
Risk Group & Containment Requirements
Risk Group 2

Agents that are associated with human disease which is rarely serious and for which preventive or therapeutic interventions are often available.
BSL2
For all procedures involving suspected or known infectious specimen or cultures.
ABSL2
For all procedures utilizing infected animals.
Spill Procedures
Small
Notify others working in the lab. Remove PPE and don new PPE. Cover area of the spill with absorbent material and add fresh 1:10 bleach:water. Allow 20 munutes (or as directed) of contact time. After 20 minutes, cleanup and dispose of materials.
Large
  • Immediately notify all personnel in the lab and clear all personnel from the area. Remove any contaminated PPE/clothing and leave the lab. 
  • Secure the area by locking doors, posting signage and guarding the area to keep people out of the space. 
For assistance, contact MSU's Biosafety Officer (406-994-6733) or Safety and Risk Management (406-994-2711).
Exposure Procedures
Mucous membrane
Flush eyes, mouth, or nose for 5 minutes at eyewash station.
Other Exposures
Wash area with soap and water for 5 minutes.
Reporting
Immediately report incident to supervisor, complete a First Report of Injury form, and submit to Safety and Risk Management.
Medical Follow-up
During business hours: Bridger Occupational Health 3406 Laramie Drive. Weekdays 8am -6pm.  Weekends 9am-5pm
After business hours: Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Emergency Room 915 Highland Blvd Bozeman, MT
Viability
Disinfection
0.5% sodium hypochlorite (1:10 bleach:water), 70% ethanol
Inactivation
moist heat (15 minutes at 121oC) and dry heat (1 hour at 160-170oC).
Survival Outside Host
Unknown.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Minimum PPE Requirements
Lab coat, disposable gloves, safety glasses, closed toed shoes, long pants
Additional Precautions
 Additioanl PPE may be required depending on lab specific SOPs and IBC Protocol.