[The spirochetal etiology of erythema chronicum migrans and Garin-Bujadoux-Bannwarth meningo-polyneuritis].

Erythema chronicum migrans and tick-born meningo-polyneuritis Garin-Bujadoux-Bannwarth are caused by a spirochete transmitted by Ixodes ricinus. The same is true of Lyme disease, the erythema chronicum migrans infection of North America transmitted by ticks of the same genus. In Europe demonstration of IgG and IgM antibodies against Borrelia duttoni during the course of infection and by immunofluorescence staining of spirochetes in ticks at sites of infection indicate this etiology. In the USA a spirochete could be isolated from ticks and from blood, skin and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Lyme disease. In addition patients showed antibodies against the isolated spirochete. The etiologic findings allow a better causative therapy and the investigation of the pathogenesis and the epidemiology of the multiform disease which can involve skin, nervous system, joints and heart.