Lyme Disease

The cause of the disease was established as the spirochete and named Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). Three species of Borrelia cause LD: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (United States and Europe), Borrelia garinii, and Borrelia afzelii (Europe). A syndrome consisting of lymphocytic meningitis, radiculitis, and cranial nerve palsy was described by Garin-Bujadoux and Bannwarth. This syndrome is related to a preceding ECM and bite by Ixodes ricinus; it was called tick-borne meningopolyneuritis (Gannwarth syndrome). The bacterial pathogen suspected is now called Bb (Sigal, 1997).

LD is a zoonotic infection occurring in enzootic cycles among wildlife; it affects humans when they are bitten by an infected tick. LD affects all age groups and may involve the skin, joints, nervous system, and heart. Most human cases of

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later in infection, at the point when anti-ospA reactivity is identified. OspA (induces IL-6 production) vaccination has been effective in mice; other Bb proteins used as vaccines are ospB, C, E, and F. Bb has mitogenic activity for B cells; polyclonal B cell activation is identified in patient sera. Animal models suggest that T cells are involved in LD pathogenesis; Bb has an effect on T cells. Bb is a potent immunomodulator; Bbs suppress local immune responses (Sigal, 1997). Stages & Body Effects LD is divided into three categories of clinical features and amount of time passed since acquisition of infection. Separate stages may overlap. Days to a month after a tick bite, erythema migrans (EM) at the site of the bite, occurs in 50 percent to 80 percent of patients; multiple lesions occur in around 50 percent of EM patients. This early localized LD phase is accompanied with non-specific symptoms that are compatible with a viral syndrome (50 percent of patients). Symptoms include fatigue/malaise/lethargy, headache, myalgia, arthralgias, and regional/generalized lymphadenopathy (Sigal, 1996; 1997). In a matter of weeks to around nine months, 10 percent to 15 percent of those not receiving antibiotic therapy progress t
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Approximate Word count = 1865
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)

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