New Lyme Disease Test Products Appear in Europe

Lyme disease results from infection with spirochetes belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. In Europe and Asia, most cases of Lyme disease are caused by B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. afzelii, or B. garinii. New qualitative serologic tests for the detection of IgG and IgM antibodies to these clinically important Borrelia species have been designed specifically for use in Europe.

Lyme disease in humans follows transmission of Borrelia species via a tick bite. The most frequent symptoms include skin rash, diffuse flu-like reaction, and joint pains. The characteristic rash is not always present, making diagnosis more difficult. If untreated or inadequately treated, neurologic, cardiac, or serious joint abnormalities may follow.

Eurosurveillance reports that the incidence of Lyme disease is on the increase across Europe with particularly high increases seen in Northern and Eastern Europe. It is the most common tick-borne disease in the European Union (EU). Travelers who have the rash, erythema chronicum migrans, or other manifestations of Lyme disease should seek early medical attention. In general, it should not be necessary to seek care from a specialist in travel or topical medicine. Lyme disease can usually be cured by an appropriate course of antibiotic treatment.

The new Lyme enzyme immunoassay (EIA) products were designed and manufactured by Trinity Biotech plc (Bray, Ireland), a developer and manufacturer of diagnostic products for the point-of-care (POC) and clinical laboratory markets. The products include the Trinity Biotech EU Lyme IgG + VlsE EIA (Vmp-like sequence, expressed-based enzyme immunoassay) and the EU Lyme IgM EIA.

The addition of VlsE to the product significantly boosts sensitivity of the assay. These new products complete Trinity Biotechs product offering for Lyme disease in Europe, complementing the existing EU Lyme Western Blot confirmatory assays.


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