Microbiologically Confirmed Early Lyme Disease
Authors: Robert P. Smith, Allen C. Steere
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2002)

Letters15 October 2002Microbiologically Confirmed Early Lyme DiseaseRobert P. Smith, MD and Allen C. Steere, MDRobert P. Smith, MDMaine Medical Center Research Institute; Portland, ME 04102New England Medical Center; Boston, MA 02111Search for more papers by this author and Allen C. Steere, MDMaine Medical Center Research Institute; Portland, ME 04102New England Medical Center; Boston, MA 02111Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-137-8-200210150-00018 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:Dr. Masters objects to our inclusion of the reference by Campbell and associates (1) in our brief allusion to an erythema migrans–like rash that has been associated with the bites of lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum). Although the clinical characteristics of this illness, which has been reported predominantly in the southeastern and south-central United States, have been described by Masters and colleagues (2), others, including Campbell and associates, have also contributed to the investigation of its epidemiology and possible etiology (1, 3–5). Attempts to demonstrate infection in these patients by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, the recognized cause of ...References1. Campbell GL, Paul WS, Schriefer ME, Craven RB, Robbins KE, Dennis DT. Epidemiologic and diagnostic studies of patients with suspected Lyme disease in Missouri, 1990-1993. J Infect Dis. 1995;172:470-80. [PMID: 7622891] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Masters E, Granter S, Duray P, Cordes P. Physician-diagnosed erythema migrans and erythema migrans-like rashes following Lone Star tick bites. Arch Dermatol. 1998;134:955-60. [PMID: 9722725] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Kirkland KB, Klimko TB, Meriwether RA, Schriefer M, Levin M, Levine J, et al . Erythema migrans-like rash illness at a camp in North Carolina: a new tick-borne disease? Arch Intern Med. 1997;157:2635-41. [PMID: 9531233] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Barbour AG, Maupin GO, Teltow GJ, Carter CJ, Piesman J. Identification of an uncultivable Borrelia species in the hard tick Amblyomma americanum: possible agent of a Lyme disease-like illness. J Infect Dis. 1996;173:403-9. [PMID: 8568302] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Burkot TR, Mullen GR, Anderson R, Schneider BS, Happ CM, Zeidner NS. Borrelia lonestari DNA in adult Amblyomma americanum ticks, Alabama. Emerg Infect Dis. 2001;7:471-3. [PMID: 11384533] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Robert P. Smith, MD; Allen C. Steere, MDAffiliations: Maine Medical Center Research Institute; Portland, ME 04102New England Medical Center; Boston, MA 02111 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoClinical Characteristics and Treatment Outcome of Early Lyme Disease in Patients with Microbiologically Confirmed Erythema Migrans Robert P. Smith , Robert T. Schoen , Daniel W. Rahn , Vijay K. Sikand , John Nowakowski , Dennis L. Parenti , Mary S. Holman , David H. Persing , and Allen C. Steere Microbiologically Confirmed Early Lyme Disease Edwin J. Masters Metrics Cited byLyme-Like Illness Currently Deserves Lyme-Like Treatment 15 October 2002Volume 137, Issue 8Page: 698KeywordsBorrelia burgdorferiClinical epidemiologyEpidemiologyErythemaEtiologyInfectious diseasesLyme diseasePathogenesisRashesTicks ePublished: 15 October 2002 Issue Published: 15 October 2002 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2002 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...