History Of Lyme Disease
The first recorded case related to Lyme disease dates back to 1883. In Breslau, Germany, a physician named Alfred Buchwald discovered a condition known today as the acrodermatitis chronic atrophicans (ACA), which is described as the discoloration or degeneration on the skin commonly occurring on the hands and feet.
In the 1909 meeting of the Swedish Society of Dermatology, Arvid Afzelius presented his research on a phenomena described as the expanding ring-like skin lesions or rash pattern that he had observed for years. 12 years later, he published the manuscript of his work, speculating that the condition came from the bite of an Ixodes tick.
During the early part of the 20th century, more associations have been made on the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease. The medical cases that were used in the inquiry included the link between erythema migrans (EM) rash and neurologic problems in 1922, the occurrence of psychiatric symptoms in patients with EM rash in 1930, the occurrence of EM and ACA on patients with benign nodule or rumor (lymphocytomas) in 1934 and the involvement of heart conditions on patients with EM rash and arthritic symptoms.
In the middle portion of the 20th century, physicians continue to experiment on some possibly effective antibiotic treatments. In 1970, with the case of Rudolph Scrimeti, an American who was reported to be bitten by a tick while hunting in Wisconsin was the very first reported incidence of EM rash known with certainty as the Lyme disease. By 1976, clustering of the disease was observed and reported at the Naval Submarine Medical in Southwestern Connecticut. By 1977, a doctor named Allen Steere and his team managed to describe and provide explanation for the phenomena, which was initially misdiagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis. Hence, they named the condition as the ‘Lyme arthritis‘.
In 1980s, an entomologist named Willy Burgdorfer, MD, Ph.D. of the United States Rocky Mountain Laboratories of the National Institutes of Health investigated the outbreak of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Research Scientists Edward Bosler, Ph.D. and Jorge Benach collaborated with the dangerous work of gathering and testing tick samples in hope of finding the source of the disease-causing pathogens. In the fall of 1981, the team had finally put focus on the black-legged ticks, which yielded new findings. Discovering an embryonic form of parasite in the body fluid of the ticks, Burgdorfer further examined the finding, which led to the discovery of the causative agent of Lyme disease. The infectious bacteria were later on named Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb).
The following years were described as the consolidation and expansion of knowledge concerning Lyme disease. Researchers became focused on learning about the infection lodges of the bacteria. In 1985, Dr. Paul Duray decralred that the causative bacteria of Lyme disease have the capacity to disseminate itself through the body, making an early course of infection possible. With that prevailing wisdom, people are now finding ways to slow down the progress of infection. In 1985, Burgdorfer demonstrated how infected ticks with Lyme spirochete are found across the country. By 1988, the Lyme Disease Foundation was founded and started to establish partnerships among patients, government officials and research volunteers who are meaning to promote awareness on Lyme disease.
Since its discovery, the prevalence of Lyme disease has increased exponentially. However, the determination of its causative agent and infectious activity guided physicians and research scientists in finding more effective treatments and prevention mechanisms.
Recent Comments