Novel Borrelia Species Causes Lyme Borreliosis in the U.S.

Clinical features appear to differ from those of known U.S.-based Lyme disease.

Of the many genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi that cause Lyme borreliosis, only B. burgdorferi sensu stricto had been known in the U.S. Mayo Clinic investigators now describe a new genospecies in the upper Midwest.

Among >100,000 routine clinical specimens submitted from 2003 to 2014, polymerase-chain-reaction targeting of the oppA1 gene of B. burgdorferi sensu lato identified 6 specimens (5 blood and 1 synovial fluid, collected after 2011) that had a melting temperature outside the expected range. The patients (aged 10–67 years) with atypical specimens had fever (5 patients), diffuse or focal rash (4), neurological findings such as confused speech or visual difficulties (3), and knee pain and swelling (1); two patients were hospitalized.

M…

Reviewing Author

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Novel Borrelia Species Causes Lyme Borreliosis in the U.S.

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Reviewing Author