First isolation of Borrelia burgdorferi from an iris biopsy

J Clin Neuroophthalmol. 1993 Sep;13(3):155-61; discussion 162.

Abstract

The persistence of Borrelia burgdorferi in six patients is described. Borrelia burgdorferi has been cultivated from iris biopsy, skin biopsy, and cerebrospinal fluid also after antibiotic therapy for Lyme borreliosis. Lyme Serology: IgG antibodies to B. burgdorferi were positive, IgM negative in four patients; in two patients both IgM and IgG were negative. Antibiotic therapy may abrogate the antibody response to the infection as shown by our results. Patients may have subclinical or clinical disease without diagnostic antibody titers. Persistence of B. burgdorferi cannot be excluded when the serum is negative for antibodies against it.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / analysis
  • Biopsy
  • Borrelia burgdorferi Group / immunology
  • Borrelia burgdorferi Group / isolation & purification*
  • Eye Infections, Bacterial / diagnosis*
  • Eye Infections, Bacterial / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Iris / microbiology*
  • Iris / pathology
  • Iris Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Iris Diseases / immunology
  • Iris Diseases / microbiology
  • Lyme Disease / diagnosis*
  • Lyme Disease / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial