Borrelia is the genus of bacteria that causes Lyme disease. In the United States, Lyme disease is recognized to be caused be certain strains of Borrelia, including Borrelia bergdorferi, Borrelia hermsii, Borrelia mayonii, Borrelia parkerii, Borrelia turicatae, among others. In Europe and Asia, other species of Borrelia, including Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii, have also been associated with Lyme disease. Hundreds of Borrelia species can be found all over the world, and new species continue to be discovered.
Chronic Lyme Disease Blood Testing:
Testing for Lyme disease at any stage of illness is tricky. Once Borrelia invades the host, the bacteria travels through the blood stream and rolls through blood vessels into spaces between cells. At this point, Borrelia can become a chronic infection if not treated promptly. It takes about two to three weeks from the initial exposure for Borrelia to become chronic in nature. At this point, treatment becomes more challenging.
The lifecycle of Borrelia is typically longer than the average two week course of antibiotics that are prescribed for acute Lyme disease. This can also lead to chronic Lyme disease, as the infection is not successfully treated.
Testing for Lyme disease via blood specimens is like taking a shot in the dark. Borrelia does not live in the bloodstream normally unless it is active or an acute state of infection. Conventional two-tiered testing, per the recommendations of the CDC, include an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) followed by a western blot test. Both of these tests look at the immune response of the body to Borrelia and do not look for the actual Borrelia infection. The two-tiered testing approach fails to identify Borrelia infection in those with chronic Lyme disease over 50% of the time. What makes being diagnosed with Lyme disease per the CDC standards so difficult is the limited scope of each test and both tests have to be positive for someone to be diagnosed with Lyme disease. If one test is positive and the other is negative, that person does not have Lyme disease by the standards of the CDC. One of the biggest drawbacks to standard Lyme disease testing is that the two-tiered test only checks for Borrelia bergdorferi. This means if someone is infected with a different species of Borrelia, it is likely that testing will be negative.
After the CDC failed to produce a vaccine for Lyme disease in the early 2000s, the number of bands included in the standard western blot was reduced to five bands. Bands in a western blot test refer to the test strip areas where antibodies (immune defense proteins) in the patient’s blood sample binds to Borrelia proteins if they have been infected with the specific strain of Borrelia being tested for. The western blot looks for immune memory of a specific infection. In order for someone to test positive, two out of the five bands have to be positive. False positives may result due to the similarities of many bacterial and viral proteins.
iGenex is an independent laboratory company that offers Lyme disease testing with higher sensitivity than the conventional CDC two-tiered test. This means in those with Lyme disease, there is a higher likelihood that the test would identify the infection that causes Lyme disease. One of the drawbacks of iGenex blood tests is the cost. Many insurance companies do not cover the substantial up front cost that is the patient’s responsibility. Additionally, iGenex testing is limited to a few Borrelia strains, which limits the diagnosis of Lyme disease.
Based on the limits of testing for Lyme disease, Dr. Miranda Hill utilizes Cellular Photonics to test patients for Lyme and co-infections. Most people are unaware of the number of co-infections that come with Lyme disease. Lyme disease is not just the result of Borrelia, but the complied affect of many different possible infections, including viruses, parasites, or other bacteria. It is essential to treat all active infections in order to balance the immune system and help the body recover. Dr. Miranda Hill is a Lyme-literate doctor, who specializes in treating chronic Lyme disease and co-infections. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Miranda Hill here.
Conventional Chronic Lyme Disease Treatment:
Chronic Lyme disease treatment is highly debated. Conventional chronic Lyme disease treatment typically involves the use of oral or IV antibiotics for months to years. Long-term use of antibiotics alters the gut microbiome and changes biological pathways within the body. The problem with using prescription antibiotics as a stand alone treatment for Lyme disease is the ability for the Lyme bacteria, Borrelia, to shift into different forms: intracellular (lives inside of cells), cyst (creates a capsule around itself), and spirochete (corkscrew shape). This is why chronic Lyme disease is called “the great shape-shifter.” These various forms allows Lyme to persist in the body, drill into tissues, remain dormant, and hide inside of cells. Borrelia also has many self-defense mechanisms that allows it to evade the immune system and become resistant to prolonged treatment with antibiotics.
Alternative Chronic Lyme Disease Treatment:
Due to the negative side effects of conventional antibiotics, many people with chronic Lyme disease seek alternative treatments. Alternative chronic Lyme disease treatments can be experimental at best and can be extremely costly. At Restorative Medicine, we have years of clinical experience managing chronic Lyme disease. Dr. Miranda Hill and the some of the staff members at the clinic have personal experience navigating chronic Lyme disease. Dr. Miranda Hill has identified strategic treatments to address chronic Lyme and co-infections. These treatments support the immune system and detoxification pathways to bring the body back into balance and alleviate symptoms. Learn more about Restorative Medicine here.
