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Updated: May 9, 2026
07:20
Detecting the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia Burgdorferi, in Ticks Using Nested PCR
Published on: February 4, 2018
Lyme neuroborreliosis.
Klaus Hansen1, Clarissa Crone, Wolfgang Kristoferitsch
1Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, University Clinic Copenhagen, Denmark.
Handbook of Clinical Neurology
|August 13, 2013
Summary
Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) is a nervous system disorder caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. Early LNB involves painful nerve inflammation and often facial palsies, responding well to antibiotics.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) is a nervous system disorder caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb).
- Clinical presentations are categorized into early and late/chronic forms.
- Early LNB commonly manifests as lymphocytic meningoradiculoneuritis (LMR) 3-6 weeks post-infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the pathology and clinical manifestations of early and late Lyme neuroborreliosis.
- To elucidate the diagnostic criteria and treatment response for LNB.
Main Methods:
- Review of nerve biopsies, autopsies, animal models, and nerve conduction studies.
- Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for inflammation and antibody production.
- Clinical assessment of patients with suspected LNB and acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (ACA).
Main Results:
- Early LNB pathology involves lymphocytic perineuritis, leading to axonal injury in nerve roots and ganglia.
- CSF analysis reveals lymphocytic inflammation in early and late LNB.
- Facial nerve palsies are common in early LNB; chronic forms primarily affect the central nervous system.
Conclusions:
- LNB diagnosis relies on clinical presentation, CSF inflammation, and specific antibody detection.
- Early and late LNB are treatable with antibiotics.
- Peripheral neuropathy associated with ACA presents differently and is not primarily affected by antibiotic therapy for LNB.
Keywords:
- CSF findings- clinical manifestations- differences between Europe and North- electrophysiological findings- nerve biopsy findings- neuroimaging- pathology- peripheral nerve involvement- therapyAmericaBannwarth's syndromeBorrelia burgdorferiBorrelia gariniiChronic neuroborreliosisLyme neuroborreliosisLymphocytic meningoradiculitisNeuropathy in Acrodermatitis chronica
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