OspA is produced specifically by Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

BBC: Test for tick disease

The occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Ixodes ricinus ticks from eastern Poland with the use of PCR.

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And arthritis of a somewhat different sort sometimes follows Lyme disease, an infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi which is passed on by tick bites.

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However, he said the majority of cases of Lyme disease in the UK were not caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, but by a separate species Borrelia garinii.

BBC: Test for tick disease

Much more study into the nature of the Borrelia bacterium needs to be done before a safe and reliable vaccine for all the strains can be created, BADA UK says.

BBC: Areas of woodland can harbour ticks

Hindsight and improved medical science has shown that during my short stay in Kabul, I contracted Borrelia bacteria (strains of which in the US cause "Lyme Disease") from ticks, which fell off mice that scampered over my feet during sleep, attracted probably by the bits of sweets given to me lovingly by Madaar (Mother), which I kept in my suitcase under the bed.

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