Comparison of Erythema Migrans Caused byBorrelia burgdorferiandBorrelia garinii

Abstract

Background: A comparison of patients with erythema migrans due to Borrelia garinii versus Borrelia burgdorferi has not been reported. Patients and Methods: One hundred nineteen patients from New York State with erythema migrans caused by B. burgdorferi were compared with 116 patients from Slovenia with erythema migrans due to B. garinii infection. Results: Patients with B. garinii infection were older, more often reported a tick bite, and developed larger lesions (median largest diameter: 18 and 14 cm, respectively; p=0.01) that more often had central clearing (61.2% compared with 35.3%; pB. burgdorferi, however, more often had systemic symptoms (68.9% vs. 37.1%; ppp=0.0003), myalgia (pp=0.0008), fever and/or chills (pppp=0.0002) or regional lymphadenopathy (pB. burgdorferi infection to have multiple erythema migrans skin lesions (13.4% compared with 5.2%; p=0.051), and among patients with multiple erythema migrans the number of lesions was greater in B. burgdorferi-infected patients (median: 5.5 compared with 2.0; p=0.006). Conclusions: The results of the present study indicate that in patients with erythema migrans the clinical features vary according to whether infection is caused by B. garinii or B. burgdorferi.