Lyme borreliosis, ticks and Borrelia species

This issue of the Wiener klinische Wochenschrift contains review papers on clinical and diagnostic aspects of Lyme borreliosis, on hard ticks as vectors of human pathogens and on recent discussion on the taxonomy of borreliae. We will learn about approaches for the management of infectious diseases transmitted by hard ticks established during the past 30 years at the Lyme Disease Diagnostic Center, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA [1]. We also include an article on Viennese long-term experience with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infections that has enabled the diagnosis and successful treatment of rare manifestations of Lyme neuroborreliosis presenting as dementia-like syndromes [2]. An article on ticks as vectors explains what makes ixodid ticks such efficient transmitters of pathogens [3]. In addition, a paper on the proposal for a new genus name for the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, which has triggered fierce debate, illuminates the background from the viewpoint of a molecular microbiologist [4]. …