Detection of serum antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi with some commercially available serological tests

Sixty-three sera were analysed for antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi with an in-house indirect immunofluorescence assay. Thirty-nine sera were positive (titer greater than or equal to 256), seven borderline (titer 128) and 17 negative (titer less than or equal to 64). These results were compared with results obtained with four different commercial assays for detection of such antibodies. Indirect immunofluorescence tests yielded most positive results. The flagellin ELISA test detected antibodies in patients with erythema chronicum migrans (ECM) more often than the other test systems. Sera from patients with acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (ACA) were positive in all systems. The serological diagnosis of borreliosis is difficult and direct methods for detecting the presence of the microbe are highly needed.