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Updated: Jun 29, 2026
08:23
Feeding of Ticks on Animals for Transmission and Xenodiagnosis in Lyme Disease Research
Published on: September 1, 2013
Lyme disease masquerading as brown recluse spider bite.
Kevin C Osterhoudt1, Theoklis Zaoutis, Joseph J Zorc
1Poison Control Center, the Division of Emergency Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. osterhoudtk@email.chop.edu
Annals of Emergency Medicine
|April 26, 2002
Summary
Lyme disease can mimic brown recluse spider bites, presenting with necrotic skin wounds. Consider tick-borne illness in Lyme-endemic areas when diagnosing skin necrosis.
Area of Science:
- Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Dermatology
Background:
- Necrotic skin lesions are often attributed to brown recluse spider envenomation.
- Geographic overdiagnosis of brown recluse spider bites is a potential issue.
Observation:
- A case of Lyme disease presented with clinical features similar to brown recluse spider bites.
- The primary manifestation was a significant necrotic skin wound.
Findings:
- Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi infection, can manifest as a necrotic skin lesion.
- This presentation challenges the exclusive diagnosis of spider bites in endemic regions.
Implications:
- Tick bite and Borrelia burgdorferi infection should be included in the differential diagnosis for necrotic arachnidism.
- Accurate diagnosis is crucial for appropriate treatment and public health awareness in Lyme-endemic areas.
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