Antibodies and T-cell reactivity to Borrelia burgdorferi in an asymptomatic population: a study of healthy blood donors in an inland town district in the south-east of Sweden

Scand J Infect Dis. 2001;33(11):806-8. doi: 10.1080/00365540110077376.

Abstract

To address the issue of whether Borrelia infection can be asymptomatic, blood donors with no history of borreliosis (n = 408) were screened for antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi. Seropositive individuals (n = 17) were further investigated with respect to Borrelia-specific T-cell reactivity, using an interferon-gamma ELISPOT assay. Anti-Borrelia antibodies as well as Borrelia-specific T-cell responses were evident in 9 asymptomatic donors, strongly supporting a current or previous asymptomatic Borrelia infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood*
  • Antigens, Bacterial / blood*
  • Blood Donors*
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / immunology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Lyme Disease / epidemiology*
  • Lyme Disease / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Sweden / epidemiology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Interferon-gamma