Hindriksen, S. (2010) Lyme borreliosis: The diagnostic value of laboratory assays. Bachelor's Thesis, Biology.
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Abstract
Lyme borreliosis is caused by an infection with the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. As the symptoms associated with Lyme disease are unspecific clinical diagnosis of the disease is difficult. A two-tier testing method, consisting of a enzyme immunoassay followed by an immunoblot in case of positive or equivocal results, is currently practiced to demonstrate the presence of the bacteria in the serum of a potential patient. However, the sensitivity and specificity of laboratorial tests are often inadequate. In this review the reliability of a number of laboratorial assays is evaluated. Among the immunoassays appraised here, the ELISA using a synthetic peptide derived from the antigenic VlsE protein of Borrelia appeared to be the most accurate first tier test. Differences between confirmatory Western blotting assays seem to be minor. PCR in skin biopsies or synovial specimens may provide an additional contribution to diagnosis. A positive antibody index and pleocytosis are indicative of Lyme neuroborreliosis. Still, due to the suboptimal performance of any laboratorial test method diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis should be based on a combination of the clinical manifestation, laboratory tests and the a priori chance of Lyme disease.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis) |
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| Degree programme: | Biology |
| Thesis type: | Bachelor's Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Date Deposited: | 15 Feb 2018 07:31 |
| Last Modified: | 15 Feb 2018 07:31 |
| URI: | https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/9166 |
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