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Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Detecting the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia Burgdorferi, in Ticks Using Nested PCR
Published on: February 4, 2018
PCR in lyme neuroborreliosis: a prospective study
D Pícha1, L Moravcová, E Zdárský
1First Clinic for Infectious Diseases, Second Medical Faculty of Charles University, Faculty Hospital Bulovka, Czech Republic.
Objectives:
DNA proof is the only widely available direct diagnostic tool in Lyme borreliosis. Sensitive PCR detecting of spirochetal DNA was prepared and a prospective study in neuroborreliosis was performed.
Materials And Methods:
57 hospitalised patients with active neuroborreliosis and proved CSF antibodies synthesis were examined. Nested-PCR (utilizing three targets) was used for the detection of specific DNA in plasma, CSF and urine.
Results:
Before treatment 36 positive patients (63.1%) were found in all tested specimens in parallel, 28 patients (49.1%) were positive in urine, 20 in CSF (35.0%) and 16 in plasma 28.0%). Later only urine was tested and the following results were obtained: 17 positive patients (30.0%) immediately after treatment, 8 (14.0%) after 3 months and one patient persisted positivity after 6 months.
Conclusions:
The highest sensitivity of PCR was achieved in the acute period of neuroborreliosis - 63.1% in three body fluids comparing with CSF antibody synthesis.
