Parasite. 1998 Dec; 5(4): 383-6.
Longitudinal study of Lyme borreliosis in a high risk population in Switzerland.
Zhioua E, Gern L, Aeschlimann A, Sauvain MJ, Van der Linden S, Fahrer H.
Department of Parasitology, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland.
Orienteers from all parts of Switzerland (n = 416) were included in a longitudinal study for Lyme borreliosis. In spring 1986, the seroprevalence was 28.1%. At the beginning of the study, 84.3% of orienteers reported a history of tick bite, and 3.8% reported a past history of Lyme borreliosis. During the first (spring 1986-autumn 1986), second (autumn 1986-spring 1987) and third (spring 1987-autumn 1987) period, rates of seroconversion were 0.6%, 2.7% and 2.1% respectively. During the first and second period, clinical incidence were 1.0% and 0.25% respectively. No active Lyme borreliosis was detected during the third period. Among orienteers who seroconverted during the study (n = 16), only two developed clinical symptoms. Hence, Borrelia burgdorferi infection is often asymptomatic.
Infection. 1999; 27(4-5): 286-8.
Lyme arthritis in a 12-year-old patient
after a latency period of 5 years.
Albert S, Schulze J, Riegel H, Brade V.
Institute Med. Microbiology, University Hosptial Frankfurt, Frankfurt/M., Germany.
Lyme arthritis (LA) may be confused with other rheumatic diseases, particularly in the absence of a history of erythema migrans (EM). We report the case of a 12-year-old patient who developed a large effusion of the right knee joint. The titer for antinuclear antibodies was 1:80 and the test for rheumatoid factor was negative. Investigations for antibody response to Borrelia burgdorferi demonstrated remarkable elevation of IgG antibody and no specific IgM response.These results were confirmed by immunoblotting reactivity with the bands p83/100, p58, p43, p41, p39, OspA, p30, OspC, p21, and p17. We subsequently learned that the child had suffered a tick bite followed by an EM 5 years earlier and had been treated with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole at that time. The patient now was given intravenous ceftriaxone, 2 g daily for 14 days. In the absence of clinical improvement 3 weeks later a knee joint aspiration was performed which resulted in a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for B. burgdorferi DNA (OspA) in the synovial fluid.The patient fully recovered 2 months later without further treatment. The case indicates that the latency period between EM and onset of LA may last up to 5 years. In addition to serologic test methods, analysis of synovial fluid using PCR may be decisive for making the final diagnosis of LA.
Scand J Infect Dis. 2002; 34(12): 922-4.
Activation of latent Lyme borreliosis concurrent
with a herpes simplex virus type 1 infection.
Gylfe A, Wahlgren M, Fahlen L, Bergstrom S.
Department of Molecular Biology, Umea University, Umea, Sweden
The case is reported of a 26-y-old woman with latent Lyme borreliosis that was concurrently
activated with a herpes simplex virus type 1 infection. Immune suppression by stress may have
caused activation of both infections.
