Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2007 Mar;18(2):145-8.
doi: 10.1155/2007/495108.

The laboratory diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis: Guidelines from the Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network

Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network

The laboratory diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis: Guidelines from the Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network

Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network. Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol. 2007 Mar.

Abstract
in English, French

Lyme borreliosis is uncommonly seen in Canada. Most cases have occurred in close proximity to small geographical areas where infected ticks have become established. Although few cases are seen, thousands of patients are tested yearly. Unless patients are carefully selected and an appropriately sensitive and specific testing algorithm is applied, large numbers of patients without Lyme borreliosis will be incorrectly diagnosed. The Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network has developed the present guidelines to assist physicians in assessing patients for Lyme borreliosis, and to help guide the choice and interpretation of laboratory testing.

La borréliose de Lyme s’observe rarement au Canada. La plupart des cas sont survenus dans zones géographiques restreintes où des tiques infectées s’étaient établies. Bien que peu de cas aient été observés, des milliers de patients subissent des tests annuellement. À moins que les patients ne soient sélectionnés avec soin et qu’un algorithme diagnostique sensible et spécifique approprié ne soit appliqué, d’importants contingents de patients indemnes de la borréliose de Lyme risquent de recevoir un diagnostic erroné. Le Réseau des laboratoires de santé publique du Canada a préparé les présentes directives pour aider les médecins à diagnostiquer la borréliose de Lyme chez leurs patients et pour orienter le choix et l’interprétation des analyses de laboratoire.

Keywords: Borreliosis; Diagnosis; Lyme disease; Serology.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Steere AC, Malawista SE, Snydman DR, et al. Lyme arthritis: An epidemic of oligoarticular arthritis in children and adults in three Connecticut communities. Arthritis Rheum. 1977;20:7–17. - PubMed
    1. Burgdorfer W, Barbour AG, Hayes SF, Benach JL, Grunwaldt E, Davis JP. Lyme disease – a tick-borne spirochetosis? Science. 1982;216:1317–9. - PubMed
    1. Ogden NH, Trudel L, Artsob H, et al. Ixodes scapularis ticks collected by passive surveillance in Canada: Analysis of geographic distribution and infection with the Lyme Borreliosis agent Borrelia burgdorferi. J Med Entomol. 2006;43:600–9. - PubMed
    1. Morshed MG, Scott JD, Fernando K, et al. Distribution and characterization of Borrelia burgdorferi isolates from Ixodes scapularis and presence in mammalian hosts in Ontario, Canada. J Med Entomol. 2006;43:762–73. - PubMed
    1. Morshed MG, Scott JD, Fernando K, et al. Migratory songbirds disperse ticks across Canada, and first isolation of the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, from the avian tick, Ixodes auritulus. J Parasitol. 2005;91:780–90. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources