Bull’s-Eye on Borrelia: A Commensal and Consequential Pathogen

Cases of Lyme Disease exceed 476,000 each year. Recent increases leave bad lettuce far in the dust. 

This lengthy research article offers creation science vs. evolutionary perspective from Answers in Genesis.

Clear graphics and exploration of this topic are well worth a full read at the link. Excerpted here for length.

https://answersingenesis.org/biology/disease/bulls-eye-on-borrelia/

Bull’s-Eye on Borrelia: A Commensal and Consequential Pathogen

Ticks and Their Role in Lyme Disease and Alpha-gal

Dr. Alan L. Gillen, Adam Russell, and Zipporah Nedlock    |   July 17, 2026

Abstract
If Lyme disease causes such urgent and chronic disease issues, where do Borrelia bacteria and ticks fit into a very good creation (Genesis 1)? How did bacteria and ticks change to rely on different hosts and blood for survival? And how are these adaptations informing today’s research in bacteriology, immunology, entomology, and disease ecology?

The purposeful placement of Borrelia (Fig. 1) is most likely in the gut of wild mice (Fig. 2), not domesticated mice nor man. The bacteria are communalistic in wild mice, where they may be probiotic for mutual good (Fig. 2)—the Creator made it for good at its rightful pace. But when Borrelia is displaced and outside of wild mice (also called zoonotic spillover), it can cause disease in other animals, from lab mice to dogs to mankind. In a fallen world, it can enter a complex and intricate life cycle (Fig. 3): ticks, mice, deer, dogs, and man. When displaced in men or lab mice, Borrelia can cause significant diseases and become consequential pathogens. Borrelia in the bone causes arthritis, rash, heart problems, and even death. It can also be a persistent pathogen causing chronic disease.

Human, animal, and environmental health are intricately interwoven, inextricably interrelated, and providentially designed. All life on earth is connected by the Creator’s plan. Secular scientists, including those at the CDC, recognize the connection within the biosphere and call it “One Health,” though they do not acknowledge the Creator and a biblical view of the age of the earth and the created rather than evolved design. But we can agree that all three interacting components are connected and that good stewardship recognizes the connectivity of all. The reasoning is that microorganisms (and parasites) circulate among human hosts, animal hosts, and environmental reservoirs. Changes in the environment can lead to the new transmission of pathogens to animals and humans. It might be helpful to visualize three overlapping spheres. A change in any of one of the spheres influences the others as it happens continuously. The mixing of microbes in different animal hosts (displacement) and under different environmental conditions can lead to the adaptation of potentially new pathogens and parasites.

Today, the One Health and original design appear to be “broken.” Ticks may have once been scavengers, but they now can be deadly parasites and vectors of disease. They are increasingly common, and tick-borne diseases are emerging and popping up everywhere this summer. HHS and CDC report that more that there are an estimated 476,000 cases of Lyme disease each year, and the federal government is stepping up action in preventing it (HHS Press, May 29, 2026).

Figure 1+
Figure 1. Borrelia burgdorferi Under Dark-Field Microscope (400x Magnification). The microbe that causes Lyme disease is a thin, corkscrew-shaped spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. Nymph ticks pick up the bacteria while feeding on infected white-footed mice and later transmit it to humans. Due to the thin diameter of the organism, unstained samples best be visualized using dark-field or phase-contrast techniques (CDC Image 6631).

Lyme Disease in the News
According to the CDC (2026), cases of Lyme disease are on the rise; emergency rooms across the world are encountering more infected patients, with the nation suffering the most emergency visits for tick-borne infections since 2017. Furthermore, this data does not even consider visits to urgent care facilities or people who choose not to pursue treatment, especially in emergency rooms. Cases of Lyme span all throughout the US, spiking throughout the Northeast, Midwest, and even the deep South and West Coast. Overall, the percentage of tick bites across the nation is up more than 25% in April 2026 when compared to the previous year (Baumgarth and Hart 2026).

Recent data shows a significant spike in local prevalence. For example, in my (senior author) home (birth) state, Pennsylvania has the highest incidence of Lyme disease, as does much of the Northeast. The number of cases is rising locally in central Virginia and so is awareness of Lyme disease and Alpha-gal syndrome (Milhorne et al. 2026).

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