Doença de Lyme: anticorpos anti Borrelia burgdorferi nos trabalhadores rurais da Argentina

Lyme Disease is a tick-borne (specially by Ixodes ticks) immune-mediated inflammatory disorder caused by a newly recognize spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. Indirect fluorescent antibody (IF) staining methods and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay are frequently relied upon to confirm Lyme borreliosis infections. Although serologic testing for antibodies has limitations, it is still the only practical means of confirming B. burgdorferi infections. Because we have no previous report of Lyme disease in human inhabitants in Argentina, a study was designed as a seroepidemiologic investigation of the immune response to B. burgdorferi in farm workers of Argentina with arthritis symptoms. Three out of 28 sera were positive (#1,5 and 9). Serum # 1 was positive for Immunoglobulin G at dilution 1:320, serum # 5 and # 9 both to dilution 1:160; while for Immunoglobulin M all (#1, 5 and 9) were positive at low dilution (1:40) using IF. The results showed that antibodies against B. burgdorferi are present in an Argentinian population. Thus caution should be exercised in the clinical interpretation of arthritis until the presence of B. burgdorferi be confirmed by culture in specific media.A doença de Lyme, é uma desordem inflamatória, intermediada pelo sistema imunogênico, transmitida por carrapatos (especialmente do Gênero Ixodes) e causada por uma espiroqueta recentemente descoberta, a Borrelia burgdorferi. A técnica de Imunofluorescência Indireta (IF) é com freqüência usada para confirmar o diagnóstico da infecção por este microrganismo. Embora os métodos práticos tenham limitações, é no entanto o único método prático para seu diagnóstico. Devido a não existência de registros prévios dessa doença na Argentina, foi realizada pesquisa seroepidemiológica para determinar a presença de imunoglobulinas nos trabalhadores rurais da Argentina, com sintomas de artrite. Sobre um total de 28 soros analisados, 3 resultaram positivos (o soro número 1 com um título de 1:320 para IgG, embora os soros números 5 e 9 ambos foram reativos a diluição 1:160). Esses mesmos soros foram analisados para a IgM sendo todos eles levemente reativos (1:40), usando IF. Os resultados mostram que anticorpos anti Borrelia burgdorferi se encontram presentes na população da Argentina. Deve-se ter, portanto, precaução na interpretação clínica das artrites até que a presença de Borrelia burgdorferi seja confirmada pelo cultivo nos meios específicos

Lyme Disease: antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi in farm workers in Argentina

Lyme Disease is a tick-borne (specially by Ixodes ticks) immune-mediated inflammatory disorder caused by a newly recognize spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. Indirect fluorescent antibody (IF) staining methods and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay are frequently relied upon to confirm Lyme borreliosis infections. Although serologic testing for antibodies has limitations, it is still the only practical means of confirming B. burgdorferi infections. Because we have no previous report of Lyme disease in human inhabitants in Argentina, a study was designed as a seroepidemiologic investigation of the immune response to B. burgdorferi in farm workers of Argentina with arthritis symptoms. Three out of 28 sera were positive (#1,5 and 9). Serum # 1 was positive for Immunoglobulin G at dilution 1:320, serum # 5 and # 9 both to dilution 1:160; while for Immunoglobulin M all (#1, 5 and 9) were positive at low dilution (1:40) using IF. The results showed that antibodies against B. burgdorferi are present in an Argentinian population. Thus caution should be exercised in the clinical interpretation of arthritis until the presence of B. burgdorferi be confirmed by culture in specific media