Lyme Disease Dr. Peter Dobie
Introduction
Lyme disease was named in 1977 when arthritis was observed in a cluster of children in and around Lyme, CN
Conditions suggested that this was an infectious disease probably transmitted by an arthropod
Further investigation revealed that Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium
Causative Organism
Borrelia burgdorferi
Loosely coiled spirochete
8-20 micrometers
Ticks that cause Lyme disease
Lone Star Tick
Black-legged Tick
Rocky Mountain Tick
Three Stages of Disease
Localized rash – erythema chronicum migrans
Dissemination to multiple organ systems
Chronic disseminated stage often with arthritic symptoms
Localized Rash
Dissemination
Signs of early disseminated infection usually occur days to weeks after the appearance of a solitary erythema migrans lesion
Neurologic – Bell’s Palsy
Musculoskeletal manifestations migratory joint and muscle pains
Late disseminated Lyme disease is intermittent swelling and pain of one or a few joints.
may
include
Chronic Disseminated
Chronic arthritis
Chronic axonal polyneuropathy
Lyme disease morbidity may be severe, chronic, and disabling.
Rarely, if ever, fatal
Diagnosis ď‚—
Diagnosed clinically, confirmed serologically.
ď‚—
Often appropriate to treat patients with early disease solely on the basis of objective signs and a known exposure.
ď‚—
CDC recommends testing initially with a sensitive first test, ELISA or an IFA test, followed by testing with the more specific Western immunoblot (WB) test to corroborate equivocal or positive results obtained with the first test.
Serology
Patients with early disseminated or late-stage disease usually have strong serological reactivity
Antibodies often persist for months or years following successfully treated or untreated infection.
Seroreactivity alone cannot be used as a marker of active disease
Problems with Serology
IFA false positive may occur if patient has syphilis, relapsing fever or RA.
IFA interpretation highly subjective
EIA lacks sensitivity in early disease.
EIA false positives with syphilis, other treponemes, IM and autoimmune disease.
Western Blot
Must be used if the Lyme IgG/IgM antibody serology is equivocal or positive
"Osp" refers to outer surface protein of the bacteria.
"kDa" is the abbreviation for "kilodalton," which is used for molecular weight designations.
Lyme antibodies of importance are against the following molecular weights of the B. burgdorferi antigens: 23-25 kDa (Osp C); 31 kDa (Osp A); 34 kDa (Osp B); 39 kDa; 41 kDa; and 83-93 kDa7.
Treatment
Single dose doxycycline shortly after tick bite.
Lyme disease give doxycycline followed by amoxacillin
Neuroborreliosis requires IV antibiotic therapy.
Address: SUITE 3A, EDGECLIFF COURT, 2 NEW McLean ST, EDGECLIFF, NSW 2027 Email: info@drpeterdobie.com Telephone: 02 9362 0493 Fax: 02 9363 0767
Dr. Peter Dobie
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