In Europe Ixodes ricinus is dominant. A wide variety of animals including rodents, birds, domestic dogs and cats, sheep and deer can harbour B. burgdorferi . Initially a characteristic skin rash, erythema migrans, develops within days to weeks after a tick bite, often accompanied by symptoms such as headache, fever, myalgia and arthralgia. Weeks to months later neurological and cardiac complications can occur. Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans, chronic encephalomyelitis or arthritis can occur years after infection.
Early disease responds well to antibiotic treatment, late disease less well.
IgG antibody response may not occur until several weeks after the initial IgM peak response but can persist for months or years. Therefore a positive result is confirmed by Western Blot. Clinical details are required with every sample received for a full interpretation of test results. Negative results do not rule out the possibility of Lyme disease and a repeat sample may be required if indicated clinically.