Lyme Borreliosis in Human Patients in Florida and Georgia, USA

Lyme Borreliosis in Human Patients in Florida and Georgia, USA http://www.medsci.org/v10p0915.htm Kerry L. Clark, Brian Leydet, Shirley Hartman Med Sci 2013; 10(7):915-931. doi:10.7150/ijms.6273 Abstract This is the first report to present combined PCR and DNA sequence evidence of infection with Lyme Borrelia spp. in human patients in the southern U.S., and to demonstrate that several B. burgdorferi sensu lato species may be associated with Lyme disease-like signs and symptoms in southern states. Based on the findings of this study, we suggest that human Lyme borreliosis occurs in Florida and Georgia, and that some cases of Lyme-like illness referred to as southern tick associated rash illness (STARI) in the southern U.S. may be attributable to previously undetected B. burgdorferi sensu lato infections.