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Updated: Aug 26, 2026

Detecting the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia Burgdorferi, in Ticks Using Nested PCR
07:20

Detecting the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia Burgdorferi, in Ticks Using Nested PCR

Published on: February 4, 2018

MPGN secondary to Lyme disease

Dimitrios Kirmizis1, Georgios Efstratiadis, Dominiki Economidou

  • 1University Department of Nephrology, Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. kirmizis@med.auth.gr

American Journal of Kidney Diseases : the Official Journal of the National Kidney Foundation
|February 26, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness, can cause kidney problems like glomerulonephritis. This case study shows a patient recovered well after experiencing Lyme disease-related kidney inflammation.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Lyme disease is a complex tick-borne illness caused by Borrelia burgdorferi.
  • Borrelia burgdorferi infection is known to cause glomerulonephritis in animal models.
  • The renal manifestations of Lyme disease in humans are not well-documented.

Observation:

  • A patient presented with multisystemic Lyme disease symptoms.
  • The patient subsequently developed acute postinfectious membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis.
  • Lyme disease was serologically confirmed.

Findings:

  • The patient required dialysis for 5 months due to severe kidney impairment.
  • Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis was diagnosed following Lyme disease.
  • Complete serological confirmation of Borrelia burgdorferi infection was achieved.

Implications:

  • This case highlights a rare but serious renal complication of Lyme disease in humans.
  • Early diagnosis and management of Lyme disease may be crucial in preventing severe kidney damage.
  • Further research is warranted to understand the mechanisms linking Borrelia burgdorferi and human glomerulonephritis.

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