
WESTERN BLOT TEST FOR DUMMIES SKIN
afzelii is associated with arthritis and skin lesions.

garinii is mainly associated with neuroborreliosis whereas B. The two other species are present in Europe and Asia and produce mixed infections in humans and mice. afzelii, strains found in the United States are relatively homogeneous and conform to the definition of B. Although there are three geno-species recognized within the Borrelia burgdorferi (B. It contains several antigens that are important in pathogenesis and diagnosis including outer surface proteins, OspA through OspG, that are located on plasmids and a 41 kDa flagellar protein. Borrelia burgdorferi is the longest and narrowest of the Borreliae. The disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a spriochete sharing sequence homology with Treponema and Leptospira. Ixodes ticks are most likely to transmit infection after feeding for two or more days. Ticks feed by inserting their mouths into the skin of a host and slowly taking in blood. In their larval and nymphal stages, they are no bigger than a pinhead. Ixodes ticks are much smaller than common dog and cattle ticks.

On the Pacific Coast, the bacteria are transmitted to humans by the western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus). The tick Ixodes scapularis is responsible for the transmission of the LD bacteria in the Northeastern and Northcentral United States. There has been a steady increase in the incidence of the disease over the years and the distribution of the disease in the United States matches the distribution of ticks of the genus Ixodes. It is the most common arthropod-borne infection in the United States. LD is a multisystem and multistage infection caused by a tick-borne spirochete. Lyme disease (LD) was named in 1977 when arthritis was observed in a cluster of children in and around Lyme, Connecticut. Your final report will include all the positive bands showing on the blot even if the result is considered negative (there is a minimum number of bands that have to appear before a test is called positive). Western Blotting is much more sensitive and more specific thatn EIA. It is recommended to test for the presence of Lyme disease antibodies if you live in a high risk area for Lyme’s disease. Not all Lyme cases produce the typical “Bull’s Eye” rash.


Please seek immediate medical attention if there are any unusual symptoms associated with the tick bite. If the result is negative, the patient should pay special attention to the bite site as there are other organisms that can be transmitted by ticks (e.g. There is no need for a doctor’s order to run the test, however, it is highly recommended that you provide us with a doctor’s fax number so that we can keep your family physician informed. Ticks should be shipped cooled overnight.
WESTERN BLOT TEST FOR DUMMIES ZIP
Transfer the tick into a plastic container with a tight seal or to a zip lock bag if it is dead and send it to the lab. Also, you have to be careful not to squeeze the gut contents into the bite site as this may increase the chances for bacterial transmission. Do not use heat, petroleum, or any other chemical while attempting to remove it from the bite site. Important: If you have been bitten by a tick, be very careful when removing it. Request test 124 (Lyme Disease) for Lyme Test by PCR, test 124A for Lyme Test by Western Blot, or test 124B for both PCR and Western Blot testing, To order test, please fill out the Test Request Form and include with your specimen. Clongen Laboratories offer Lyme Disease Testing by PCR and Western Blot.
