The Journal of investigative dermatology
-
J. Invest. Dermatol. · Mar 1998
Identification of three species of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. garinii, and B. afzelii) among isolates from acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans lesions.
In Europe, at least three species of Borrelia are known to be causative agents of Lyme borreliosis: B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. garinii, and B. afzelii. Observable differences in the molecular characteristics of the three species have led to speculation that they may also differ in their pathogenic potential and/or tissue tropisms. Several studies have found an association between the chronic skin manifestation of Lyme borreliosis, acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans, and infection by B. afzelii. ⋯ The remaining five isolates possessed large restriction fragment patterns that were typical of B. garinii (MLg2, four isolates from three patients) and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (MLb2, one isolate). The results of 16S ribosomal RNA-specific polymerase chain reaction were concordant with these species designations. These data show that B. afzelii is the predominant, but not the exclusive, etiologic agent of acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans.