Search
Abstract
Lyme disease is a tick-borne disease caused by spirochetes belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. The disease is characterized by a varied course; therefore, the basis for diagnosis is laboratory methods. Currently, a two-tiered serological test is recommended, using an ELISA as a screening test and a Western blot as a confirmatory test. This approach was introduced due to the relatively high number of false-positive results obtained when using an ELISA alone. However, even this approach has not entirely solved the problem of false-positive results caused by cross-reactive antibodies. Many highly immunogenic B. burgdorferi s.l. proteins are recognized nonspecifically by antibodies directed against other pathogens. This also applies to antigens, such as OspC, BmpA, VlsE, and FlaB, i.e., those commonly used in serodiagnostic assays. Cross-reactions can be caused by both bacterial (relapsing fever Borrelia, Treponema pallidum) and viral (Epstein–Baar virus, Cytomegalovirus) infections. Additionally, a rheumatoid factor has also been shown to nonspecifically recognize B. burgdorferi s.l. proteins, resulting in false-positive results. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully interpret the results of serodiagnostic tests so as to avoid overdiagnosis of Lyme disease, which causes unnecessary implementations of strong antibiotic therapies and delays in the correct diagnosis.
Citations
-
7
CrossRef
-
0
Web of Science
-
4
Scopus
Cite as
Full text
- Publication version
- Accepted or Published Version
- DOI:
- Digital Object Identifier (open in new tab) 10.3390/antib12040063
- License
-
open in new tab
Keywords
Details
- Category:
- Articles
- Type:
- artykuły w czasopismach
- Published in:
-
Antibodies
no. 12,
ISSN: 2073-4468 - Language:
- English
- Publication year:
- 2023
- Bibliographic description:
- Grąźlewska W., Holec-Gąsior L.: Antibody Cross-Reactivity in Serodiagnosis of Lyme Disease// Antibodies -Vol. 12,iss. 4 (2023), s.63-
- DOI:
- Digital Object Identifier (open in new tab) 10.3390/antib12040063
- Sources of funding:
-
- Free publication
- Verified by:
- Gdańsk University of Technology
seen 70 times
Recommended for you
New BB0108, BB0126, BB0298, BB0323, and BB0689 Chromosomally Encoded Recombinant Proteins of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato for Serodiagnosis of Lyme Disease
- W. Grąźlewska,
- T. Chmielewski,
- B. Fiecek
- + 1 authors