[Serological screening for Lyme disease in Israel]

During 1989-1992, 123 serum samples from patients with dermatological or neurological disorders were tested for Lyme disease antibody. In only 1 case was a diagnosis of autochthonous Lyme disease confirmed. 8.9% of the samples were positive for antibody to the 41kD flagellar antigen of Borrelia burgdorferi (ELISA test) and 7.3% for the 39kD protein (immunodot test). The diagnosis of Lyme disease should be confirmed by carefully timed tests to detect antibody against multiple species-specific bacterial antigens.