[Lyme disease in Chile. Prevalence study in selected groups].
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of Lyme disease in Chile is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To study the existence and epidemiology of Lyme disease in Chile.


METHODS
One hundred eighteen patients with signs or symptoms suggestive of Lyme disease were studied. Antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi were measured using ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence screening tests. Positive cases were confirmed with ELISA using a purified antigen and Western Blot analysis. Human biological samples and ticks were cultured in BSK-H medium.


RESULTS
Five patients, three with dermatological manifestations and two with facial palsy and other neurological symptoms, had antibodies against Borrelia, measured by ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence. However the presence of IgM antibodies by ELISA using purified antigen, was confirmed in only one case. All sera and cerebrospinal fluids were negative on Western Blot Analysis. No plasma, skin, CSF or thick culture yielded Borrelia


CONCLUSIONS
We could not confirm the existence of Lyme disease in Chile. Positive screening with negative confirmatory test suggests false positive non-specific reactivity or that local Borrelia are antigenically different compared to North American strains.
Neira
O
O
Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Hospital del Salvador, Santiago de Chile.
Cerda
C
C
Alvarado
M A
MA
Palma
S
S
Abumohor
P
P
Wainstein
E
E
Guzmán
L
L
Juliet
C
C
Pérez
C
C
Raggio
X
X
Rojas
I
I
Honorato
H
H
Alcaíno
H
H
Fredes
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002677:Chile; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013987:Ticks / Q000382:microbiology