Dermatológia pre prax 1/2009

Lyme disease – biology, pathogenesis, diagnostics and treatment

Paper reviews basic facts about pathogenesis, diagnostics, prevention and treatment of Lyme disease. This multisystemic disease is the most frequent zoonosis in Europe and the USA. The disease affects not only skin, but also nervous system, motoric apparatus, and cardiovascular system. Causative agent of the disease are spirochtetes from Borrelia burgdorferi species group. In spite of considerable research progress in recent decades, some features of this disease remain obscure. Similarly, the problem of vaccination is still unresolved.

Keywords: Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, spirochaetes