Ticks, Borrelia burgdorferi and Lyme Disease
A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Ticks".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2023) | Viewed by 2629
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Lyme disease/Lyme borreliosis (LD) is a bacterial disease transmitted to humans by ticks, caused by a B. burgdorferi s.l. complex composed of several spirochete genospecies: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia valaisiana, Borrelia lusitaniae, Borrelia spielmaniiand Borrelia bissetti. B. burgdorferi s.l. infection leads to a mixed, multi-system dysfunction, which may affect skin (erythema migrans (EM), acrodermatitis chronica atropicans (ACA)), nervous system (neuroborreliosis (NB)), joints (Lyme arthritis (LA)), heart (Lyme carditis) or even eyes. The clinical manifestations of LD can be divided into three phases: early localized, early disseminated, and late disease, usually with a diversity of nonspecific symptoms, especially at the beginning of infection.
The number of Lyme borreliosis cases in Europe is rising year by year, but highest incidence is seen in Middle and Middle-east Europe. The same problem is observed in the United States of America.
Proper diagnostic process seems to play a key role in starting successful treatment. At present, in LD diagnosis, epidemiological interview (endemic area of the tick occurrence, the fact of tick bite, time of a tick bite), clinical manifestations and laboratory confirmation are all needed. Laboratory diagnostics is still based on a two-level scheme of immunoserological research: determination of specific antibodies index by ELISA and confirmation by Western blot or immunoblot. Immunoserological tests should be performed at least 4–6 weeks after tick bite (IgM antibodies appear in 3-4 weeks, peak after 6–8 weeks; IgG antibodies appear in 4–6 weeks, peak after 4–6 months). Molecular biology techniques such as PCR and its modifications as well as sequencing (also NGS, next-generation sequencing) give the possibility of earlier confirmation of infection and may spread diagnostic possibilities.
The pathogenesis, different clinical presentations, diagnostic difficulties and treatment in endemic regions are still crucial issues in Lyme borreliosis endemic areas.
This Special Issue will focus on research areas including but not limited to the following:
- Epidemiological aspects of Lyme borreliosis.
- Pathogenesis and diagnostics of Lyme borreliosis in humans.
- Infection in ticks with Borrelia burgdorferi.
- Approach to prevention and treatment of Lyme diseases.
- Development of novel therapeutic strategies against Lyme diseases and tick-borne co-infections.
Dr. Justyna Dunaj-Małyszko
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- Borrelia
- PCR
- tick-borne co-infection
- ticks
- Lyme disease
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