UNF Professor Discovers Two Lyme Disease Bacteria Previously Unknown to Infect Human Patients

Commentary: Lyme disease has been believed to be rare or non-existent in southern states. Dr Kerry Clark, from the University of North Florida, recently found that 42 percent of patients from southern states tested positive for some Lyme borrelia species, including infection with B. burgdorferi, B. americana and B. andersonii. These findings expand the geographical distribution of Lyme, and confirm the rapidly expanding epidemic of tick-borne disease seen across the US and Europe.

The different borrelia species discovered in the southern states may also not be picked up by commonly used two-tiered testing protocols (like B. miyamotoi), resulting in patients being misdiagnosed with diseases such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, or Autoimmune disorders like MS. Science is rapidly expanding our understanding of Lyme and associated tick-borne disease, and we must let go of old paradigms if we are to effectively deal with the enormous health challenge that is before us.

UNF Professor Discovers Two Lyme Disease Bacteria Previously Unknown to Infect Human Patients, Infection Control Today