LYME BORRELIOSIS: CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS AND ADVANCES IN DIAGNOSIS AND CONTROL

Abstract

Lyme disease or borreliosis is presumed one of the most significant vector-borne diseases globally. The disease is re-emerging in numerous parts of world. It has expanded dramatically in newer areas in recent decades. Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi yet additionally by other borrelial species, B. afzelii and B. garini which cause diverse clinical syndromes. Spatial distribution and clinical presentations differ depending on the causative species. Clinical manifestations of Lyme disease can be delineated in three stages. The first stage is presented in the form of erythema migrans at the site of tick bite. Early dispersed stage can lead to multiple lesions of erythema migrans, neuroborreliosis, lymphocytoma, arthritis or carditis. The manifestation at later stage shows acordermatitis chronica atrophicans, arthritis and neurological involvement. Diagnosis is challenging owing the several clinical presentations and could require multiple tests. The antibiotics that are currently under use, help in the clearance of bacteria from the affected host and stop further spread of the disease. Although several antibiotics are being used for Lyme disease, doxycycline is the widely used antimicrobial in early stage of the disease. Several attempts have been made to develop a vaccine against Lyme disease, however, none of them have been successfully marketed. The present review discusses clinical manifestations, and advances in diagnosis and control of Lyme disease.