title: Characterization of Borrelia burgdorferi strains in Lyme arthritis.
abstract: In the study presented, we investigated whether Lyme arthritis is associated with a particular Borrelia burgdorferi genospecies. Using the PCR technique, in 7/11 samples of synovial fluid of patients with Lyme arthritis a part of the ospA-gene was identified and the strains characterized by sequencing of the amplified DNA. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto was found in 3 patients, B. garinii in 3, and B. afzelii in 1 patient. In conclusion, Lyme arthritis is caused by all 3 human pathogenetic genospecies which are actually known. For clinical practice PCR proved to be a rather insensitive diagnostic method, but may confirm the diagnosis of Lyme arthritis in doubtful cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eiffert
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karsten
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thomssen
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Christen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013045:Species Specificity; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D008074:Lipoproteins; C072045:OspA protein