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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

Borrelia meningitis in Denmark

K Hansen, C Rechnitzer, N S Pedersen

    Zentralblatt Fur Bakteriologie, Mikrobiologie, Und Hygiene. Series A, Medical Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, Virology, Parasitology
    |February 1, 1987
    PubMed

    Insights

    Borrelia meningitis, a tick-borne illness, often presents with painful nerve inflammation and can affect the central nervous system. Early penicillin treatment is effective for this condition, even with severe neurological involvement.

    Area of Science:

    • Neurology
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Tick-borne Illnesses

    Background:

    • Borrelia meningitis is an emerging tick-borne spirochetosis in Denmark.
    • The study focuses on the clinical presentation and treatment of borrelia meningitis.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To describe the clinical features of borrelia meningitis.
    • To evaluate diagnostic methods and treatment efficacy.

    Main Methods:

    • Study included 23 patients diagnosed with borrelia meningitis.
    • Clinical data, CSF analysis, and serological tests were analyzed.
    • Treatment outcomes with penicillin were assessed.

    Main Results:

    • Seasonal incidence observed from June to December.
    • 21 patients had painful sensory radiculitis, often followed by cranial mononeuritis multiplex (Bannwarth's syndrome).
    • Three patients presented with focal central nervous system (CNS) involvement, including transverse myelitis, encephalitis, and leucoencephalopathy. CSF invariably showed lymphocytic pleocytosis and elevated protein. CSF antibody testing was more sensitive than serum testing.

    Conclusions:

    • Borrelia meningitis presents with diverse neurological manifestations, including radiculitis and CNS lesions.
    • CSF analysis and antibody detection are crucial for diagnosis.
    • Penicillin therapy demonstrates effectiveness in treating borrelia meningitis, including cases with focal CNS lesions.

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