Anybody knows if Lyme acquired from Europe can be detected by American serology?
Perhaps European and American species of Borrelia are too different.
Anybody has some hard data on this topic?
Posted by christelleny (Member # 6719) on :
While there're only one genospecies of Bb in North America (Bb sensu stricto), there are 3 in Europe (Bb sensu stricto, B. garinii and B. afzelii).
US tests may pick up on Bb sensu stricto only. If that's the subspecies that infected you, you may test seropositive even if you were infected in Europe.
I have the same problem, as I'm not sure if I was infected in France or in the US. I don't know if US labs can identify any other subspecies. I'll know more by the end of the month, as I'm meeting with my LLMD and want to bring up the subject (identifying the subspecies may indicate the time of infection). Feel free to email me in 2 weeks. I hope I'll have a final answer.
Posted by sarabear (Member # 6530) on :
Just wanted to add that I'm int he same predicament. I don't know if I got lyme in Europe or the US. Please keep me posted on what you learn!
Thanks, Sara
Posted by Linda LD (Member # 6663) on :
My husband--who to me appears to have co-infectors--he never gets a "bump" were he feels any better like I do (we are only taking antibiotics once a month so we can keep our jobs).
He travelled in Asia for YEARS--could that be part of it?
Thanks, L
Posted by GiGi (Member # 259) on :
The commonly used testing in Europe is just as inconclusive there as it is here.
The testing that is used frequently now in Europe, at least Germany, is the LTT. The Lymphocyte Transformation Test. Search internet. I am not sure that they are up to the co-infections yet with the LTT. But definitely the (european) Borrelia. The test is recognized by insurance companies. To find an understanding doctor is just as difficult there, probably even harder, because doctors there are still wearing white coats and bowed to!
I don't think it makes much of a difference - infection from human to human, from animal to animal, from insect to human, from human to human and the next human, from animal to human ..... every host in between hosts leaves a mark on the one that finally gets us ill.
Take care.
Posted by bpeck (Member # 3235) on :
The strain used to detect antibodies in the commercial western blots will make a difference with the sensivity and specificity of the results depending on the starin you're infected with.
Same goes for the DNA used for PCR.
I know for PCR, Igenex's test willl detect the european and north america strains.
I THINK that's true for their western blots also, but better call them to make sure of that.
The only bands I know of FOR SURE that's only expressed in b. afzelii (and not the North american strain) is 12 & 14 kDA and molecular weight is not included on any USA blots, including Igenex. 17/18 kDa is 'sort of' specific for afzelii (but it has shown up on the north american strain also.).. so can't be considered species specific.
So if you're looking for hard evidence- you won't find it. And yes it'll make your testing more difficlut if you have an european strain, but get tested in North America if you use any of the diagnostic labs.
Barb
Posted by Recipegirl05 (Member # 6729) on :
Treepatrol has named him/her as a TROLL in the 10th reply in this link:
TROLLS are huge time wasters whose only aim is to cause eventual KAOS on the board.
Do not feed the Trolls.
Posted by hans (Member # 8282) on :
The lymphocyte transformation assay, commonly also called lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) is increasingly gaining ground in Germany as it is not only more sensitive than other standard tests, but also allows to get some feedback from the antibiosis. It measures the multiplication of specific T-cells, i.e. those that are activated as a response to an irritation caused by a specific antigen.
The generation of spezific antibodies is the end point of the immun reaction, whereas the generation of specific T-lymphocytes is the beginning of the immun reaction. A More detailed explanation is given in (sorry, I haven't found any comparable study in English) * von Baehr R, LADR-Akademie, Berlin, Der Lymphozytentransformationstest f�r Borrelien: Neue diagnostische M�glichkeiten f�r Problemf�lle
There are LTT tests on co-infections too. The standard LTT tests involve the test against the following antigens: mixed antigens outer surface proteins (OSPA) variable major protein-like sequence antigen human gran. ehrlichiosis/anaplasmosis pG antigen
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
The lymphocyte transformation test was named by the CDC as one of those tests that should be avoided, along with ones from Igenex and Bowen, so maybe that means it is good. CDC bad on lyme tests = good tests.
Posted by hans (Member # 8282) on :
... up to you. I just wanted to let you know about the existence of this test and its success in Germany.
I heared of many cases, in which people - that had been suffering of severe Lyme symptoms for quite a while - had negative Elisa & Westernblot tests, but a positive LTT. Then, after having taken ABx, the standard tests suddenly turned positive too. Some of these people are now even healed.
It's up to you. Me personally, I was tested positive in all 3 tests and I wouldn't trust a single one in isolation, only the overall picture.
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
Think you misunderstood my comment. We have so little confidence in our health agency, the CDC, that we assume whatever they say about lyme testing is false, and we should believe the opposite! That would make the lymphocyte transformation test a good one.