ANALYSIS OF THE METHODS FOR DIAGNOSING BORRELIOSIS − LYME DISEASE

Lyme borreliosis is a multi-organ disease transmitted by ticks, whose etiological factor is an

anaerobic bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. The incidence of this disease has risen

each year for more than 10 years now in all parts of the world where ticks are present. Due to

the multiplicity of the clinical symptoms, the disease is difficult to diagnose as it resembles

other illnesses. Further, its pathomechanism through which Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes

attack joints, heart, nervous system and skin is not fully understood. This leads to many

problems, both diagnostic and therapeutic.

At present, there are two views on Lyme disease: one forwarded by the Polish Society of

Epidemiology and Physicians of Infectious Diseases and the other one recommended by the

International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society.

The following article presents clinical diagnostic procedures as well as additional laboratory,

serological, histological, microbiological and genetic analyzes. It is an attempt to provide

the most reliable diagnostic methods although it should be noted that all of them encounter

difficulties. Accordingly, the diagnosis of Lyme disease is far from perfect and requires

further research and standardization.