Spirochetal non-Borrelia-microorganism isolated from Ixodes ricinus

Spirochetal microorganisms were isolated from female Ixodes ricinus in Slovakia. Morphological, immunochemical and molecular biological analysis showed that the microorganism shared several common antigens with Borrelia species while other genetic traits were distinct and not related to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Lyme disease patient's serum contained antibodies reacting with antigens of this microorganism. On the one hand the cross-reacting antigens represent a risk of false positive results in laboratory diagnostics, while on the other hand they have a certain potential for vaccine development against Lyme disease.