Introducing AcuDart

Partnering with industry leading laboratories to create the most accurate tick-borne disease testing from the comfort of home.

What Are Spirochetes?

back to glossary >>

Spirochetes are a group of thin, spiral-shaped bacteria that move using a unique twisting motion. These bacteria belong to the phylum Spirochaetota and are known for their ability to burrow into tissues, making them particularly difficult for the immune system to eliminate.

One of the most well-known spirochetes is Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease. Other medically significant spirochetes include Treponema pallidum (which causes syphilis) and Leptospira species (which cause leptospirosis).

Because of their corkscrew-like movement, spirochetes can penetrate deep into tissues, evade the immune system, and persist in the body, contributing to chronic and relapsing infections such as Lyme disease.

Structure and Unique Characteristics of Spirochetes

Spirochetes are distinct from other bacteria due to their helical (spiral) shape and periplasmic flagella, which allow them to move in a corkscrew motion.

Key Features:

Helical Shape – Long, flexible, spiral-shaped body.
Endoflagella (Axial Filaments) – Flagella located between the inner and outer membrane, allowing for twisting movement.
Motility in Viscous Environments – Can move through connective tissue, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid, making them highly invasive.
Outer Surface Proteins (Osps) – Help spirochetes evade the immune system and adapt to different hosts.

These characteristics enable spirochetes to spread through the body, affecting multiple organs and leading to persistent infections.

Spirochetes and Lyme Disease

Borrelia burgdorferi, the spirochete that causes Lyme disease, is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis or Ixodes pacificus). Once inside the body, Borrelia can evade the immune system and cause widespread infection, leading to symptoms such as:

Early stage: Fever, fatigue, bullseye rash (erythema migrans).
Disseminated stage: Neurological issues, joint pain, heart problems (Lyme carditis).
Late stage: Chronic arthritis, neuropathy, brain fog.

Because spirochetes can change shape (pleomorphism) and form protective biofilms, they are difficult to detect and treat, contributing to persistent or relapsing Lyme disease symptoms.

How Are Spirochetes Detected?

Diagnosing spirochetal infections like Lyme disease can be challenging, as standard antibody-based tests may miss early or persistent infections.

Common Diagnostic Methods for Spirochetes:

Serologic Testing (ELISA & Western Blot) – Detects antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi, but may not be reliable in early Lyme disease.
PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) – Identifies Borrelia DNA in blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or joint fluid.
Microscopy & Staining Techniques – Dark-field microscopy can visualize spirochetes but is not commonly used for Lyme diagnosis.
Tick-Borne Disease Panels – Comprehensive tests that detect Borrelia and co-infections like Babesia and Bartonella.

At AcuDart Health, we offer advanced testing to improve Lyme disease detection. Learn more about high-accuracy Lyme diagnostics.

Why Are Spirochetes Difficult to Treat?

Spirochetes have unique survival strategies, making them challenging to eliminate with standard antibiotic treatments.

Factors Contributing to Persistence:

Ability to Change Forms – Borrelia burgdorferi can shift between spirochetal, cystic, and biofilm-protected forms, allowing it to survive antibiotics.
Immune System Evasion – Outer surface proteins (Osps) allow Borrelia to avoid immune detection.
Intracellular Survival – Spirochetes can hide within cells, tissues, and even the nervous system, making them difficult to reach with antibiotics.
Biofilm Formation – Borrelia can form protective biofilms, reducing antibiotic effectiveness.

Because of these factors, some Lyme disease patients experience Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS), with symptoms lingering after standard antibiotic therapy.

Other Medically Important Spirochetes

In addition to Borrelia burgdorferi, several other spirochetes cause serious human diseases:

Borrelia mayonii & Borrelia miyamotoi – Cause Lyme-like illnesses.
Treponema pallidum – Causes syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection.
Leptospira species – Cause leptospirosis, a waterborne bacterial infection.
Borrelia recurrentis – Causes relapsing fever, transmitted by lice or ticks.

Because spirochetes are highly adaptable and capable of causing long-term infections, early detection and proper treatment are essential.

Final Thoughts

Spirochetes, including Borrelia burgdorferi, are highly adaptable and invasive bacteria that can evade the immune system and persist in the body, leading to chronic and relapsing infections. Their unique structure and survival mechanisms make diagnosis and treatment challenging, requiring advanced testing methods for accurate detection.

If you suspect Lyme disease or a tick-borne infection, consider comprehensive diagnostic testing with AcuDart Health for more precise and reliable results. Learn more about cutting-edge Lyme disease testing.

Shop All Tick-Borne Disease Tests

Front of Package for AcuDart Tick-Borne Disease At-Home Screening Test Panel

Back of Package for AcuDart At-Home Screening Tests

Package Contents of AcuDart At-Home Screening Tests

AcuDart Tick-Borne Disease Screening Test Panel

Sample AcuDart Tick-Borne Disease At-Home Screening Test Panel Results Report

AcuDart Tick-Borne Disease Screening Test Panel

$499.00

$596.00

Tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease, Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF), Babesiosis, and Bartonellosis share overlapping symptoms, making diagnosis difficult without comprehensive testing. Because these infections can mimic each other, relying on a single test for one disease may lead to missed or delayed diagnoses. That’s why AcuDart offers the most accurate and reliable tick-borne disease testing available.

Unlike standard tests from commercial labs like LabCorp or Quest, which typically screen for just one or two species per disease, the AcuDart Tick-Borne Disease Test Panel is designed for maximum accuracy and coverage. It detects 19 species across four major tick-borne diseases, making it the most comprehensive tick panel on the market. Whether you're experiencing persistent symptoms or have been exposed to ticks, AcuDart's tick-borne disease panel provides the most thorough and precise testing to help you get the right diagnosis and treatment faster.

Quantity