Borrelia burgdorferi tissue morphologies and imaging methodologies.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Pathology

Background:

• Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, is typically described as a spiral-shaped bacterium.
• Non-spiral morphologies of Borrelia burgdorferi in host tissues are often overlooked or misidentified as artifacts.
• Accurate identification of Borrelia in tissues is essential for diagnosing Lyme borreliosis and assessing treatment efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present diverse, non-spiral forms of Borrelia burgdorferi observed in host tissues.
• To provide explanations for the legitimacy of these tissue forms and differentiate them from artifacts.
• To establish tissue examination as a diagnostic tool for Lyme borreliosis.

Main Methods:

• Image presentation of Borrelia burgdorferi from personal collections and peer-reviewed literature.
• Commentary and structural explanations for observed non-spiral morphologies (straightened, undulating, clipped-off).
• Survey of imaging modalities used for Borrelia visualization.

Main Results:

• Demonstration of various non-spiral Borrelia burgdorferi forms rarely seen in spiral shapes within solid tissues.
• Explanation of the structural basis for these diverse morphological profiles.
• Highlighting the diagnostic value of identifying these forms in tissue samples.

Conclusions:

• Non-spiral Borrelia burgdorferi forms are legitimate and require recognition to avoid misdiagnosis.
• Tissue examination serves as a critical diagnostic tool for Lyme borreliosis.
• Objective assessment of borreliosis persistence or eradication post-antibiotic therapy can be achieved through tissue microbial detection.