OBJECTIVE: To assess human skin biopsy specimens from erythema migrans lesions for the presence of infection with multiple strains of the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. DESIGN: Skin biopsy specimens were obtained prospectively from patients with erythema migrans. To determine allelic differences and strain identification of B burgdorferi, the biopsy specimens were analyzed by cold single-strand conformation polymorphism of an amplified fragment of the outer surface protein C (ospC) gene. Further single-strand conformation polymorphism patterns of amplified ospC genes from culture isolates were compared with polymerase chain reaction products obtained directly from erythema migrans biopsy specimens. SETTING: A private dermatology office and a university medical center outpatient department. PATIENTS: Sixteen patients presenting with erythema migrans. RESULTS: Two of the 16 patients in this cohort were infected with 2 B burgdorferi sensu stricto strains, as evidenced by 2 ospC alleles in their skin biopsy results. CONCLUSION: This is the first documented description of the existence of more than a single strain of B burgdorferi sensu stricto in a human specimen.
OBJECTIVE: To assess human skin biopsy specimens from erythema migrans lesions for the presence of infection with multiple strains of the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. DESIGN: Skin biopsy specimens were obtained prospectively from patients with erythema migrans. To determine allelic differences and strain identification of B burgdorferi, the biopsy specimens were analyzed by cold single-strand conformation polymorphism of an amplified fragment of the outer surface protein C (ospC) gene. Further single-strand conformation polymorphism patterns of amplified ospC genes from culture isolates were compared with polymerase chain reaction products obtained directly from erythema migrans biopsy specimens. SETTING: A private dermatology office and a university medical center outpatient department. PATIENTS: Sixteen patients presenting with erythema migrans. RESULTS: Two of the 16 patients in this cohort were infected with 2 B burgdorferi sensu stricto strains, as evidenced by 2 ospC alleles in their skin biopsy results. CONCLUSION: This is the first documented description of the existence of more than a single strain of B burgdorferi sensu stricto in a human specimen.
Authors: Muneera Y Alghaferi; Jennifer M Anderson; Jinho Park; Paul G Auwaerter; John N Aucott; Douglas E Norris; J Stephen Dumler Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2005-04 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: G Seinost; D E Dykhuizen; R J Dattwyler; W T Golde; J J Dunn; I N Wang; G P Wormser; M E Schriefer; B J Luft Journal: Infect Immun Date: 1999-07 Impact factor: 3.441
Authors: Daniel E Dykhuizen; Dustin Brisson; Sabina Sandigursky; Gary P Wormser; John Nowakowski; Robert B Nadelman; Ira Schwartz Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2008-05 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Robert B Nadelman; Klára Hanincová; Priyanka Mukherjee; Dionysios Liveris; John Nowakowski; Donna McKenna; Dustin Brisson; Denise Cooper; Susan Bittker; Gul Madison; Diane Holmgren; Ira Schwartz; Gary P Wormser Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2012-11-15 Impact factor: 91.245