One strain of Borrelia burgdorferi appears to be more frequent in patients with antibiotic-refractory Lyme arthritis, researchers say.
“Our results add to the emerging literature concerning the differential pathogenicity of strains of B. burgdorferi,” the researchers said.
The tick-borne spirochete causes Lyme disease, which often begins with erythema migrans, an expanding skin lesion. The spirochetes frequently disseminate within a week to the nervous system, heart, and joints, often promoting arthritis.