title: [Lyme disease--new findings on its physiopathology, diagnosis, therapy and prevention].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lyme disease is a tick-borne disease caused by a spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, which manifests as a multisystem disease of the skin, nervous system, heart and joints. Recently it is the most common vector-borne disease in Yugoslavia.
  New epidemiological studies revealed that ticks can occasionally be infected not only by Borrelia burgdorferi, but also by some other microbes that can cause diseases in humans. Recently discovered the variable major protein-like sequence, antigenic variation of B. burgdorferi B 31 partly explains the ability of this organism to evade an active immune response. A key role in development of clinical symptoms associated with lyme disease belongs to the connection with ability of B. burgdorferi to induce and activate metallopeptidases and fibrinolytic enzymes, leading to extracellular matrix destruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis is made on the basis of clinical picture, exposure to ticks in endemic areas and serologic confirmation. It seems that polymerase chain reaction has little role in detection of B. burgdorferi in urine, blood, and spinal fluid samples, but it is most useful in evaluating the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy of Lyme arthritis. Infectious Diseases Society of America had prepared new guidelines for selective treatment of Lyme disease. Vaccination is still the best way of prevention for people living in high-risk areas.
authors.affiliation: Klinicki centar, Klinika za infektivne bolesti, 21000 Novi Sad, Hajduk Veljkova 1-3.
authors.forename: Jovan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vukadinov
authors.forename: Sinisa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sević
authors.forename: Grozdana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Canak
authors.forename: Nadezda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Madle-Samardzija
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Turkulov
authors.forename: Radoslava
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Doder
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy