Analysis of antibody response to the outer surface protein family in Lyme borreliosis patients

Studies on frequencies of serum antibodies to outer surface proteins (Osps) in Lyme disease have produced conflicting results. Osp antigens (A, B, and C) enriched by butanol extraction, which aids band identification in immun oblotting, were used to test sera for IgG antibody to Osp antigens from Bor relia burgdorferi isolates from each subspecies (sensu stricto, afzelii, an d garinii). Individual isolates were selected to include all five known Eur opean OspA genotypes. Of arthritis sera, 83% (n = 29), and of acrodermatiti s chronica atrophicans sera, 81% (n = 26), recognized OspA, B, and/or C, of erythema migrans sera, 23% recognized OspA and/or B and a further 15% OspC alone, Only 5 (6%) of 86 sera (4 arthritis, 1 acrodermatitis chronica atro phicans, 0 erythema migrans) recognized all five OspA phenotypes tested. Ma rked differences in the reactions of individual sera to the various Osp ant igens were seen, which helps reveal the causes of discrepancies between pre vious reports.