Introduction: Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. is a tick‑transmitted spirochaete, which can cause acute or chronic infection, either symptomatic or occult. The result depends on spirochaete species’ interaction with individual human immunity. Material and methods: The survey was conducted in the group of 1104 Silesia inhabitants (age 3‑96 years; mean 44.9±19.2) who remembered tick‑bite episode in the past and had not had recognized chronic borreliosis. The anamnestic data were focused on erythema episode and confirmation of erythema migrans by physician. The analysis of anti‑Borrelia IgM and IgG antibodies in serum with ELISA method, and verification of positive or uncertain results with Western blot analysis were conducted. Results: Erythema after tick‑bite exposition was noticed in 22.5%; 70% of them realized medical consultation and erythema migrans was confirmed in ¾ of cases. Twenty‑five percent of those without erythema asked for medical help and early borreliosis was diagnosed in 4.2% of them. In the group of patients with erythema migrans confirmed in the past 55% had positive ELISA tests results while in the group with exclusion – over 40%. Coincidence of results obtained with ELISA and Western blot methods expressed by Kendall’s τ coefficient was low: 0.256. Conclusions: In persons with tick‑bites in anamnesis and none of chronic borreliosis diagnosed the serological tests positive results seems to be not enough for disease confirmation. Because of low ELISA and Western blot tests results compatibility, the final diagnosis should be based on perceptive analysis of individual clinical picture.
" />
LOGO
PL

Serological remarks of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. infection in Upper Silesia inhabitants

Marzena Zalewska‑Ziob1, Brygida Adamek1, Joanna K. Strzelczyk1, Gizela Trapp1, Tomasz Wielkoszyński2, Aleksander Owczarek3, Marek Asman4, Ewa Szilman4, Piotr Szilman4, Celina Pająk4, Krzysztof Solarz4, Klaudia Plinta5, Andrzej Wiczkowski1
Affiliation and address for correspondence
Pediatr Med rodz Vol 8 Numer 1, p. 40-45
Abstract
Introduction: Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. is a tick‑transmitted spirochaete, which can cause acute or chronic infection, either symptomatic or occult. The result depends on spirochaete species’ interaction with individual human immunity. Material and methods: The survey was conducted in the group of 1104 Silesia inhabitants (age 3‑96 years; mean 44.9±19.2) who remembered tick‑bite episode in the past and had not had recognized chronic borreliosis. The anamnestic data were focused on erythema episode and confirmation of erythema migrans by physician. The analysis of anti‑Borrelia IgM and IgG antibodies in serum with ELISA method, and verification of positive or uncertain results with Western blot analysis were conducted. Results: Erythema after tick‑bite exposition was noticed in 22.5%; 70% of them realized medical consultation and erythema migrans was confirmed in ¾ of cases. Twenty‑five percent of those without erythema asked for medical help and early borreliosis was diagnosed in 4.2% of them. In the group of patients with erythema migrans confirmed in the past 55% had positive ELISA tests results while in the group with exclusion – over 40%. Coincidence of results obtained with ELISA and Western blot methods expressed by Kendall’s τ coefficient was low: 0.256. Conclusions: In persons with tick‑bites in anamnesis and none of chronic borreliosis diagnosed the serological tests positive results seems to be not enough for disease confirmation. Because of low ELISA and Western blot tests results compatibility, the final diagnosis should be based on perceptive analysis of individual clinical picture.
Keywords
Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., erythema migrans, anti‑B.b. antibodies, ELISA method, Western blot test

Oświadczam, że posiadam prawo wykonywania zawodu lekarza i jestem uprawniony do otrzymywania specjalistycznych informacji medycznych. Chcę zapoznać się z informacją z serwisu.