Infection

Understanding Lyme Borreliosis and Coinfections

Lyme borreliosis, discovered in 1982 by Dr. Willy Burgdorfer, is caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. Transmitted mainly by Ixodes ticks and occasionally horseflies, this disease can cause severe multisystemic inflammation. While the classic bull’s-eye rash is a known early sign, it appears in only about 50% of infections. Symptoms may evolve into joint pain, neurological issues, and chronic inflammation affecting the heart, brain, and nervous system.

Recognizing Complexity: Co-Infections and Divergent Medical Views

ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Disease Society) promotes a research-based view recognizing persistent infection, co-infections, and alternate transmission methods. Diverging from conventional guidelines, which often dismiss persistent infection and limited treatment, ILADS supports extended care. Unfortunately, patients often fall between gaps in care, navigating a health system not fully aligned with emerging science.

Diagnosing Lyme Disease

Diagnosing Lyme disease requires a combination of lab testing and clinical evidence. There is no “one best test” to determine the presence of infection. Most often, combinations of tests are utilized to get the most accurate diagnosis.

Co-Infections

When a person is bitten by a tick, they are not only at risk of contracting Lyme disease, but also a number of other infections carried by ticks, commonly referred to as “co-infections.” Testing may be required for the following organisms:

• Babesia
• Bartonella
• Ehrlichia
• Anaplasma
• Rickettsia

Tick Testing

If you have found a tick and removed it, testing the tick itself can provide the most comprehensive early insight. Testing the tick does not substitute a medical consultation or diagnosis, but it does provide detailed, individualized information about the pathogens your tick may carry. Testing the tick can determine the tick species, feeding time, and specific pathogens it carries—including bacteria, viruses, or protozoa—which may inform your doctor’s treatment decisions. While blood tests may take weeks to show results, directly testing the tick can provide highly accurate results—often within the same day of receiving the tick. This testing can significantly reduce uncertainty and help protect against illness more effectively.

Innovative Testing Methods

EliSpot: This advanced T-cell assay detects Borrelia, Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, EBV, and more with high sensitivity—detecting one reactive T-cell in 100,000. It helps assess active/chronic infection and monitor treatment response.

iSpot Assay: A two-color EliSpot, measuring IFN-γ (acute infection) and IL-2 (immune memory), offers a nuanced immune profile during or after infection. It enables better diagnostics for chronic and active infections.

TickPlex Plus: An ELISA-based immunoassay testing IgM/IgG antibodies for persistent Borrelia and co-infections including Mycoplasma, Rickettsia, and viral pathogens. With 95% sensitivity and 98% specificity, it supports diagnosis at various disease stages.

Lyme tests provide important insight, but they are most effective when interpreted alongside a patient’s clinical presentation. In addition to Lyme testing, evaluations of hormone levels, digestive and organ function, allergies/sensitivities, and other health markers help ensure your body is prepared for treatment and recovery. Our naturopathic doctors work to connect these findings with your symptoms and history to support an accurate diagnosis.

Key diagnostic considerations include:

• What symptoms are you experiencing?
• Where have you lived or traveled?
• Have you had previous diagnoses?
• How many tick bites have you sustained?
• Do other family members have Lyme disease?

Our naturopathic doctors are ILADS trained with extensive experience treating complex conditions, including Lyme. Their goal is to treat the whole body using the most effective and up-to-date diagnostic and therapeutic tools.