[Lyme borreliosis in South Germany. Epidemiologic data on the incidence of cases and on the epidemiology of ticks (Ixodes ricinus) carrying Borrelia burgdorferi]. / Lyme-Borreliose in Süddeutschland. Epidemiologische Daten zum Auftreten von Erkrankungsfällen sowie zur Durchseuchung von Zecken (Ixodes ricinus) mit Borrelia burgdorferi.

Among 2403 ticks (Ixodes ricinus) tested in 1985 for Borrelia 328 (13.6%) were carriers (adults about 20%, nymphs about 10%, larvae about 1%). The highest prevalence of infected ticks was among adult ticks in the Isar region north of Munich (33.8%). Among 9383 persons whose serum had been examined by fluorescence serology in 1985 and 1986, 1035 (11%) had raised Borrelia-specific IgG and/or IgM antibodies greater than or equal to 1:64. In 18.7% only IgM antibodies were demonstrated. Among 375 proven cases there were 78 with erythema migrans, 211 with neurological signs, 48 with Lyme arthritis and 36 with acrodermatitis. Seasonal incidence peaks were in June-August for erythema migrans, July-September for neurological signs, with no clear-cut seasonal peaks with Lyme arthritis and acrodermatitis. The incubation time for 80% of cases of each abnormality was 5-29 days for erythema migrans, 20-59 for neurological signs and 2-8 months for Lyme arthritis. Erythema migrans was most frequent among those aged 30-60 years, neurological signs among children and juveniles up to 20 years and those aged 40 to 70 years, Lyme arthritis among those aged 30-60 years, and acrodermatitis among those aged 40-80 years. Significantly more women than men developed acrodermatitis.

[Enlarged spectrum of tick transmitted spirochaetoses]. / Zum erweiterten Spektrum zeckenübertragener Spirochätosen.

After the successful identification of Borrelia burgdorferi as the cause of Lyme disease, a new tick-borne infection occurring in the United States, almost identical spirochaetes have been isolated from the tick Ixodes ricinus in Europe. As a result, the spirochaetal aetiology of skin diseases, which had long been recognized as tick-borne infections, namely erythema chronicum migrans with its neurological complications of the tick-borne meningopolyneuritis of Garin-Bujadoux-Bannwarth, acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans and lymphadenosis cutis benigna, could be confirmed by means of microbiological, histological and serological methods. On the basis of case histories it had already been assumed for some time that anetodermia maculosa and the localised sclerodermas might also be caused by a tick-borne agent. The results of serological investigations have now strengthened this assumption, although microbiological confirmation is still lacking.