Which spirochete-caused disease is transmitted by an arthropod?

Relapsing fever, caused by spirochete bacteria of the genus Borrelia, is indeed transmitted by arthropods, specifically through the bite of infected body lice or soft-bodied ticks. This mode of transmission is significant because it differentiates relapsing fever from other spirochetal diseases that are typically transmitted through direct contact or different ecological routes.

The disease is characterized by recurring episodes of fever, hence its name. The arthropod vector plays a crucial role in the epidemiology of relapsing fever, allowing it to spread particularly in crowded and unsanitary conditions, where the lice are prevalent.

In contrast, leptospirosis is associated with water contaminated by the urine of infected animals, while pinta and yaws are both caused by skin contact with infected individuals rather than by arthropods. Understanding these transmission routes helps clarify the differences between various spirochetal infections.