Madison Area Lyme Support Group

Vector Biology: Connecting human health, animal

health and the environment

Mount Allison University

Lyme Research Network

Vett Lloyd, Chris Zinck, Samantha Bishop

Vector-Biology-Connecting-human-health-animal-health-and-the-environment-Vett-Lloyd(1)   Slides Here 

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Important Findings:

Donor 1
▪ Borrelia was detected by nPCR, FISH and protein was detected by immunohistology in biopsied thoracic artery tissue. It was not detected in the other cardiac tissues.
▪ Borrelia burgdorferi DNA present only at low abundance in connective tissue
▪ These results validate the clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease in this individual, US serology and tick exposure
▪ Limited detection is consistent with aggressive treatment, although Borrelia DNA was detected. Viability cannot be assessed by these methods.
▪ Round body more common than long/spriocheatal forms
▪ The individual is still well, active and healthy

Donor 2
▪ Abundant Borrelia was detected by FISH in the pericardium
▪ Other tissues still to be tested
▪ These results are consistent with tick exposure and US WB but not Canadian serology
▪ Round body more common than long/spriocheatal forms
▪ Involvement of Borrelia infection in donor 2’s heart failure is an important question for the family and for all individuals living in endemic areas

Significance

➢ This study demonstrates that Borrelia DNA can be detected in human tissues using molecular methods