MOLECULAR-DETECTION OF BORRELIA-BURGDORFERI IN FORMALIN-FIXED, PARAFFIN-EMBEDDED LESIONS OF LYME-DISEASE

A system for the detection of a Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb)-specific gen e segment in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded skin lesions is describ ed. A nested polymerase chain reaction technique is used to selectivel y amplify in vitro a short segment of a Bb-specific gene recently desc ribed by Rosa et al. (J Infect Dis 1989: 160: 1018). The design of oli gonucleotide primers for the amplification of a relatively short gene segment allows the successful analysis of DNA which has been altered b y fixation in formalin. Using this technique, Bb-specific DNA was clea rly identified in 8 of 12 specimens of erythema chronicum migrans and in 1 case of lymphadenosis benigna cutis. These skin lesions are known to represent cutaneous manifestations of Lyme disease. Negative contr ol reactions, using DNA from borrelial strains not related to Lyme dis ease, were negative. The system enables the dermatopathologist to iden tify Bb in routinely fixed clinical specimens and allows the rapid ana lysis of various skin diseases for which an association with Bb so far has only been hypothesized.