EPIDEMIOLOGY OF BORRELIA BURGDORFERI INFECTION

  • 26 March 1988
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 118  (12) , 422-426
Abstract
Only a few investigations have been conducted into the incidence of Lyme borelliosis and the prevalence and clinical value of increased antibody titers against Borellia burgdorferi. We prospectively examined 241 persons and found increased titers in 23 (9.5%); only two of them had a history of Lyme borreliosis. The concentrations of increased IgG-antibody titers in healthy persons were comparable to those in patients with actual Lyme borreliosis. In the latter, IgM-antibodies were frequently absent. Our results suggest an infection rate of about 10% in this region of Switzerland. They further emphasize that the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis must primarily be established clinically and by exclusion of other etiology.

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