Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Polymerase chain reaction for detection ofBorrelia burgdorferi DNA in skin lesions of early and late Lyme borreliosis

  • Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a diagnostic tool for Lyme borreliosis on large numbers of samples from clinically well-defined cases of early and late cutaneous borreliosis. Skin biopsy specimens from patients with erythema migrans and acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans were analysed blindly together with an equal number of control biopsies. Using two different dilutions of each DNA specimen increased the number of total positives detected. All of the 76 control biopsies were PCR negative. Biopsy specimens from 18 of 26 (69 %) erythema migrans lesions and from 22 of 36 (61 %) acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans lesions were PCR positive. Fourteen post-therapy biopsies from patients with acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans were all negative, supporting the opinion that antibiotic therapy is successful in this chronic manifestation of Lyme borreliosis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Jaulhac B, Nicolini P, Piemont Y, Monteil H: Detection ofBorrelia burgdorferi in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Lyme borreliosis. New England Journal of Medicine 1991, 234: 1440.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Debue M, Gautier P, Hackel C, Van Elsen A, Herzog A, Bigaignon G, Bollen A: Detection ofBorrelia burgdorferi in biological samples using the polymerase chain reaction assay. Research in Microbiology 1991, 142: 565–572.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Lebech A-M, Hansen K: Detection ofBorrelia burgdorferi DNA in urine samples and cerebrospinal fluid samples from patients with early and late Lyme neuroborreliosis by polymerase chain reaction. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1992, 30: 1646–1653.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Keller TL, Halperin JJ, Whitman M: PCR detection ofBorrelia burgdorferi DNA in cerebrospinal fluid of Lyme neuroborreliosis patients. Neurology 1992, 42: 32–42.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Luft BJ, Steinman CR, Neimark HC, Muralidhar B, Rush T, Finkel MF, Kunkel M, Dattwyler J: Invasion of the central nervous system byBorrelia burgdorferi in acute disseminated infection. Journal of the American Medical Association 1992, 267: 1364–1367.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Amouriaux P, Assous M, Margarita D, Baranton G, Saint Giron I: Polymerase chain reaction with the 30-kb circular plasmid ofBorrelia burgdorferi B31 as a target for detection of the Lyme borreliosis agents in cerebrospinal fluid. Research in Microbiology 1993, 144: 211–219.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Liebling MR, Nishio MJ, Rodriguez A, Sigal LH, Jin T, Louie JS: The polymerase chain reaction for the detection ofBorrelia burgdorferi in human body fluids. Arthritis and Rheumatism 1993, 36: 665–675.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Goodman JL, Jurkovich P, Kramber JM, Johnson RC: Molecular detection of persistentBorrelia burgdorferi in the urine of patients with active Lyme disease. Infection and Immunity 1991, 59: 269–278.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Melchers W, Meis J, Rosa P, Claas E, Nohlmans L, Koopman R, Horrevorts A, Galama J: Amplification ofBorrelia burgdorferi DNA in skin biopsies from patients with Lyme disease. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1991, 29: 2401–2406.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Schwartz I, Wormser GP, Schwartz JJ, Cooper D, Weissensee P, Gazumyan A, Zimmerman E, Goldberg NS, Bittker S, Campbell GL, Pavia CS: Diagnosis of early Lyme disease by polymerase chain reaction amplification and culture of skin biopsies from erythema migrans lesions. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1992, 30: 3082–3088.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Wienecke R, Neubert U, Volkenandt M: Molecular detection ofBorrelia burgdorferi in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded lesions of Lyme disease. Journal of Cutaneous Pathology 1993, 20: 385–388.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Schempp C, Bocklage H, Lange R, Kölmel HW, Orfanos CE, Gollnik H: Further evidence forBorrelia burgdorferi infection in morphea and lichen sclerosus et atrophicus confirmed by DNA amplification. Journal of Investigative Dermatology 1993, 100: 717–720.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Nocton JJ, Dressler F, Rutledge BJ, Rys PN, Persing DH, Steere AC: Detection ofBorrelia burgdorferi DNA by polymerase chain reaction in synovial fluid from patients with Lyme arthritis. New England Journal of Medicine 1994, 330: 229–234.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Guy EC, Stanek G: Detection ofBorrelia burgdorferi in patients with Lyme disease by the polymerase chain reaction. Journal of Clinical Pathology 1991, 44: 610–611.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Åsbrink E: Cutaneous manifestations of Lyme borreliosis: clinical definitions and differential diagnosis. Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases 1991, Supplement 77: 44–50.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Baranton G, Postic D, Saint Girons I, Boerlin P, Piffaretti JC, Assous M, Grimont PAD: Delineation ofBorrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto,Borrelia garinii sp. nov., and group VS461 associated with Lyme borreliosis. International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology 1992, 42: 378–383.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Marin Canica M, Nato F, du Merle L, Mazie JC, Baranton G, Postic D: Monoclonal antibodies for identification ofBorrelia afzelii sp. nov. associated with late cutaneous manifestations of Lyme borreliosis. Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases 1993, 25: 441–448.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Rosa PA, Schwan TG: A specific and sensitive assay for the Lyme disease spirocheteBorrelia burgdorferi using the polymerase chain reaction. Journal of Infectious Diseases 1989, 160: 1018–1029.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Rosa PA, Hogan D, Schwan TG: Polymerase chain reaction analyses identify two distinct classes ofBorrelia burgdorferi. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1991, 29: 524–532.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Persing DH, Barthold SW, Malawista SE: Molecular detection ofBorrelia burgdorferi. Current Communications in Cell & Molecular Biology 1992, 6: 299–315.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Åsbrink E, Hovmark A: Successful cultivation of spirochetes from skin lesions of patients with erythema chronicum migrans afzelius and acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans. Acta Pathologica, Microbiologica et Immunologica Scandinavica (B) 1985, 93: 161–163.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Mitchell PD, Reed KD, Vandermause MF, Melski JW: Isolation ofBorrelia burgdorferi from skin biopsy specimens of patients with erythema migrans. American Journal of Clinical Pathology 1993, 99: 104–107.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Berger BW, Johnson RC, Kodner C, Coleman L: Cultivation ofBorrelia burgdorferi from erytherna migrans lesions and perilesional skin. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1992, 30: 359–361.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Van Dam AP, Kuiper H, Vos K, Widjojokusumo A, de Jongh BM, Spanjaard L, Ramselaar ACP, Kramer MD, Dankert J: Different genospecies ofBorrelia burgdorferi are associated with distinct clinical manifestations of Lyme borreliosis. Clinical Infectious Diseases 1993, 17: 708–717.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Greenfield L, White TJ: Sample preparation methods. In: Persing DH, Smith TF, Tenover FC, White TJ (ed): Diagnostic molecular biology. Principles and applications. American Society for Microbiology, Washington DC, 1993, p. 122–137.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Philipson A: Antibiotic treatment in Lyme borreliosis. Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases 1991, Supplement 7: 145–150.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska Hospital, S-171 76, Stockholm, Sweden

    L. V. von Stedingk & H. S. Hanson

  2. Department of Dermatology, Karolinska Institute at Södersjukhuset, S-118 83, Stockholm, Sweden

    I. Olsson, E. Åsbrink & A. Hovmark

Authors
  1. L. V. von Stedingk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. I. Olsson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. S. Hanson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. E. Åsbrink
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. Hovmark
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

von Stedingk, L.V., Olsson, I., Hanson, H.S. et al. Polymerase chain reaction for detection ofBorrelia burgdorferi DNA in skin lesions of early and late Lyme borreliosis. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 14, 1–5 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02112610

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02112610

Keywords

Search

Navigation