Correlation Between COVID-19 Severity and Previous Exposure to Borrelia spp.

September 19, 2023

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9509370/

Correlation between COVID-19 severity and previous exposure of patients to Borrelia spp.

Alina Szewczyk-Dąbrowska,1,2 Wiktoria Budziar,1 Marek Harhala,1,4 Krzysztof Baniecki,3 Aleksandra Pikies,3 Natalia Jędruchniewicz,1 Zuzanna Kaźmierczak,1,4 Katarzyna Gembara,1,4 Tomasz Klimek,1 Wojciech Witkiewicz,1 Artur Nahorecki,3 Kamil Barczyk,3 Marlena Kłak,1 Urszula Grata-Borkowska,2 and Krystyna Dąbrowskacorresponding author1,4
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Abstract

Predictors for the risk of severe COVID-19 are crucial for patient care and control of the disease. Other infectious diseases as potential comorbidities in SARS-CoV-2 infection are still poorly understood. Here we identify association between the course of COVID-19 and Lyme disease (borreliosis), caused by Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted to humans by ticks. Exposure to Borrelia was identified by multi-antigenic (19 antigens) serological testing of patients:

  1. severe COVID-19 (hospitalized)
  2. asymptomatic to mild COVID-19 (home treated or not aware of being infected)
  3. infected with SARS-CoV-2

Increased levels of Borrelia-specific IgGs strongly correlated with COVID-19 severity and risk of hospitalization. This suggests that a history of tick bites and related infections may contribute to the risks in COVID-19. Though mechanisms of this link is not clear yet, screening for antibodies targeting Borrelia may help accurately assess the odds of hospitalization for SARS-CoV-2 infected patients, supporting efforts for efficient control of COVID-19.

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**Comment**

Nothing shocking or new here.  Those who infected with Lyme/MSIDS are immunocompromised and are sitting ducks for about any disease that comes down the pike.  Don’t let this make you fearful, because stress is after-all, just as deadly.

Know you are compromised and then take actionable steps to mitigate your risk.

Make sure you are in good, effective treatment if you have symptoms, strengthen the immune system, avoid sugar and anything else that lowers the immune system and work with your doctor on supplements/antimicrobials, etc. that will help you fight off viruses and other opportunistic infections. This has always been the advice of Lyme literate doctors.  Nothing has changed.  Keep on, keeping on.

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Category:

Lyme, research, Viruses

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