Faculty Publications and Presentations

Publication Date

Summer 7-17-2026

Document Type

Article

Disciplines

Biology

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).

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