Correlation Between COVID-19 Severity and Previous Exposure of Patients to Borrelia Spp

Overview

Journal Sci Rep

Specialty Science

Date 2022 Sep 24

PMID 36153350

Authors

Alina Szewczyk-Dabrowska

Wiktoria Budziar

Marek Harhala

Krzysztof Baniecki

Aleksandra Pikies

Natalia Jedruchniewicz

Zuzanna Kazmierczak

Katarzyna Gembara

Tomasz Klimek

Wojciech Witkiewicz

Artur Nahorecki

Kamil Barczyk

Marlena Klak

Urszula Grata-Borkowska

Krystyna Dabrowska

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Predictors for the risk of severe COVID-19 are crucial for patient care and control of the disease. Other infectious diseases as potential comorbidities in SARS-CoV-2 infection are still poorly understood. Here we identify association between the course of COVID-19 and Lyme disease (borreliosis), caused by Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted to humans by ticks. Exposure to Borrelia was identified by multi-antigenic (19 antigens) serological testing of patients: severe COVID-19 (hospitalized), asymptomatic to mild COVID-19 (home treated or not aware of being infected), and not infected with SARS-CoV-2. Increased levels of Borrelia-specific IgGs strongly correlated with COVID-19 severity and risk of hospitalization. This suggests that a history of tick bites and related infections may contribute to the risks in COVID-19. Though mechanisms of this link is not clear yet, screening for antibodies targeting Borrelia may help accurately assess the odds of hospitalization for SARS-CoV-2 infected patients, supporting efforts for efficient control of COVID-19.

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