Lyme Neuroborreliosis is a Severe and Frequent Neurological Disease in Mexico.

OBJECTIVE: To describe clinical cases with neurological manifestations associated with Borrelia burgdorferi infection in a large cohort of children and adults from Mexico.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with neurological manifestation (cranial neuritis, radiculoneuritis, meningitis and encephalomyelitis) were recruited in one pediatric and two general hospitals, during January 2006-December 2015. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were drawn from each patient at inclusion. IgM and IgG antibodies against B. burgdorferi were detected using a commercial ELISA test, and confirmed by Western-Blot test (WB) using three different antigens from Borrelia burgdorferi complex. Following CDC criteria were considered true cases with both positive tests.

RESULTS: Of 606 patients recruited, 403 (66.5%) were adults and 203 (33.4%) children, 50.5% were male. B. burgdorferi infection was diagnosed in 168 patients (27.7%), 97 adults, mean age 42 ± 14.7 years and 71 children, mean age 9.6 ± 5 years; early disseminated disease occurred in 130 cases (77.4 %) and chronic stage in 38 (22.6 %). A previous tick bite was reported by 21% cases, and 5% recalled an erythema migrans lesion. Polyradiculoneuropathy and encephalomyelitis were the most common manifestations, whereas 14.8% presented an initial Guillain-Barré Syndrome. B. burgdorferi sensu stricto was identified in 142 (84%) cases, B. garinii in 14 (8%), B. afzelii in three, and nine cases presented coinfection with two species.

CONCLUSION: Lyme neuroborreliosis is a frequent condition in patients with neurological diseases in Mexico.