Antigenicity and immunogenicity of different morphological forms of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato spirochetes.

Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is a species complex of pleomorphic spirochetes, including species that cause Lyme disease (LD) in humans. In addition to classic spiral forms, these bacteria are capable of creating morphological forms referred to as round bodies and aggregates. The subject of discussion is their possible contribution to the persistence of infection or post-infection symptoms in LD. This study investigates the immunological properties of these forms by monitoring reactivity with early (n = 30) and late stage (n = 30) LD patient sera and evaluating the immune response induced by vaccination of mice. In patient sera, we found a quantitative difference in reactivity with individual morphotypes, when aggregates were recognized most intensively, but the difference was statistically significant in only half of the tested strains. In post-vaccination mouse sera, we observed a statistically significant higher reactivity with antigens p83 and p25 (OspC) in mice vaccinated with aggregates compared to mice vaccinated with spiral forms. The importance of the particulate nature of the antigen for the induction of a Th1-directed response has also been demonstrated. In any of morphological forms, the possibility of inducing antibodies cross-reacting with human nuclear and myositis specific/associated autoantigens was not confirmed by vaccination of mice.

Seroprevalence of Antibodies against Tick-Borne Pathogens in Czech Patients with Suspected Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome.

The hypothesized importance of coinfections in the pathogenesis of post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) leads to the use of combined, ongoing antimicrobial treatment in many cases despite the absence of symptoms typical of the presence of infection with specific pathogens. Serum samples from 103 patients with suspected post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome were tested for the presence of antibodies to the major tick-borne pathogens Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella henselae/Bartonella quinatana, and Babesia microti. Although the presence of anti-Anaplasma antibodies was detected in 12.6% of the samples and anti-Bartonella antibodies in 9.7% of the samples, the presence of antibodies against both pathogens in the same samples or anti-Babesia antibodies in the selected group of patients could not be confirmed. However, we were able to detect autoantibodies, mostly antinuclear, in 11.6% of the patients studied. Our results are in good agreement with previously published studies showing the presence of a wide spectrum of autoantibodies in some patients with complicated forms of Lyme disease and post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, but they do not reveal a significant influence of co-infections on the development of PTLDS in the studied group of patients.

Lymph node syndrome associated with cat scratch disease in children and adults.

A retrospective evaluation of a group of patients with cat-scratch disease which is focused on epidemiological context, clinical picture, serological diagnosis and treatment in children and adults. Seventy-three patients with catch-scratch disease (CSD) were diagnosed at the Clinic of infectious medicine in 2008-2017, the group consisted of 37 children and 36 adults. Injury, or at least contact with cat, localization of lymph node syndrome and other clinical signs were investigated. Serological diagnosis was based on detection of IgM and IgG antibodies against Bartonella henselae. Duration of lymph node syndrome and antibodies against B. henselae were observed. Findings of granulomatous inflammation in extirpated lymph node supported suspicion of CSD. 66 of 73 patients had contact with cat, only 22 patients reported injury caused by cat. Cervical lymph nodes were affected the most often, in 32 patients. Extirpation of lymph node was performed in 19 patients. Positive IgM antibodies were detected in 47 patients. Between the group of children and adults important differences in any followed parameters were not observed. In the group of 73 patients with cat-scratch disease cervical lymph nodes were affected the most often. Positive IgM antibodies were detected in 47 patients, lymph node extirpation was performed in 19 patients. Considerable differences in course of disease in children and adults were not found out. Keywords: cat-scratch disease, lymph node syndrome, serology, extirpation.

[Furuncular myiasis - 2 case reports]. / Furunkulózní myiaza- 2 kazuistiky.

Furuncular myiasis caused by the larvae of the human botfly, Dermatobia hominis, is a common disease in tropical areas of Latin America and may therefore occur in travelers returning from that region. Outside the endemic areas, the diagnosis is often delayed because the disease is mistaken for a bacterial skin infection. Reported are two cases of furuncular myiasis in patients returning from Central and South America.