Snydman D R, Schenkein D P, Berardi V P, Lastavica C C, Pariser K M
Ann Intern Med. 1986 Jun;104(6):798-800. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-104-6-798.
Although indirect evidence suggests that chronic Lyme arthritis is caused by persistent infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, direct visualization has been lacking. We report the demonstration of B. burgdorferi from synovial fluid aspirated from the right knee of a 31-year-old man with Lyme arthritis for more than 1 year. After 6 days, culture medium inoculated with synovial fluid showed one motile and several nonmotile spirochetes. Direct immunofluorescence staining showed reactivity with anti-B. burgdorferi serum. Spirochetes were not seen in subcultured material. The patient's arthritis improved with high-dose intravenous penicillin. Identification of B. burgdorferi from the joint fluid of a patient with long-standing arthritis supports the concept that the arthritis is due to persistent infection.
尽管间接证据表明慢性莱姆关节炎是由伯氏疏螺旋体持续感染引起的，但一直缺乏直接的可视化证据。我们报告了从一名患有莱姆关节炎超过1年的31岁男性右膝抽取的滑液中发现伯氏疏螺旋体的情况。6天后，接种滑液的培养基中出现了一条活动的螺旋体和几条不活动的螺旋体。直接免疫荧光染色显示与抗伯氏疏螺旋体血清发生反应。传代培养的材料中未发现螺旋体。该患者的关节炎在接受大剂量静脉注射青霉素后有所改善。从一名患有长期关节炎患者的关节液中鉴定出伯氏疏螺旋体，支持了关节炎是由持续感染引起的这一观点。
