THE PRESENCE OF ANTI-BORRELIA BURGDORFERI ANTIBODIES IN PERSON WITH SUSPECTED LYME DISEASE

Background: Lyme disease is a multi-organ disease caused by spirochetes, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, transmitted by Ixodes, with its clinical picture including involvement of the skin, joints, nervous system and heart. Laboratory diagnostic tests for Lyme disease are mainly based on the detection of anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies by means of serological methods. Aim of the work: assessment of the level of antibodies against specific B. burgdorferi s.l. antigens in persons with suspected Lyme disease.

Material and methods: the tested group consisted of 98 patients with suspected Lyme disease. During the first phase of the tests, anti-Borrelia burgdorferi IgM/IgG antibodies were marked using ELISA method, and positive and uncertain results were confirmed by Westernblot test (Wb).

Results: anti-B. burgdorferi IgM/IgG antibodies were present in 60 patients (61.2%). IgM and IgG antibodies were detected as positive in 8 (8.1%) and 35 (35.7%) patients respectively. IgM and IgG were co-present in 6 persons (6.1%), including 2 persons (2%) with positive results in both classes. All patients with positive IgM (12 persons) had anti-OspC antibodies, and 2 patients had, in addition, anti-p31 antibodies. In patients with positive IgG the results were as follows: antibodies against antigen p17 - 77% of cases, VlsE - 74%, p30 - 46%, p39 - 44%, p83 - 38%, p19 - 31%, OspC/p25- 28%, p31 - 23%, p21 - 8%.

Conclusions: laboratory diagnostic tests for Lyme disease must be performed in accordance

with the current standards, positive and uncertain results must be confirmed by Westernblot

test. Results of lab tests must correlate with patient’s symptoms.