1887

Abstract

The present study investigated the cause of illness in human patients primarily in the southern USA with suspected Lyme disease based on erythema migrans-like skin lesions and/or symptoms consistent with early localized or late disseminated Lyme borreliosis. The study also included some patients from other states throughout the USA. Several PCR assays specific for either members of the genus or only for Lyme group spp. ( ), and DNA sequence analysis, were used to identify spp. DNA in blood and skin biopsy samples from human patients. DNA was found in both blood and skin biopsy samples from patients residing in the southern states and elsewhere in the USA, but no evidence of DNA from other spp. was detected. Based on phylogenetic analysis of partial flagellin () gene sequences, strains that clustered separately with , or were associated with Lyme disease-like signs and symptoms in patients from the southern states, as well as from some other areas of the country. Strains most similar to and were found most commonly and appeared to be widely distributed among patients residing throughout the USA. The study findings suggest that human cases of Lyme disease in the southern USA may be more common than previously recognized and may also be caused by more than one species of . This study provides further evidence that is not the only species associated with signs and/or symptoms consistent with Lyme borreliosis in the USA.

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2014-05-01
2024-03-19
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