Dermatological and Genital Manifestations of Lyme Disease Including Morgellons Disease

• Main Authors: Middelveen MJ, Haggblad JS, Lewis J, Robichaud GA, Martinez RM, Shah JS, Du Cruz I, Fesler MC, Stricker RB
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2021-05-01
• Series: Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology
• Subjects: lyme disease; morgellons disease; erythema migrans; borrelia burgdorferi; tickborne disease; spirochetes
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/dermatological-and-genital-manifestations-of-lyme-disease-including-mo-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CCID

Marianne J Middelveen,1 John S Haggblad,2 Julie Lewis,3 Gilles A Robichaud,3 Roberto M Martinez,4 Jyotsna S Shah,5 Iris Du Cruz,5 Melissa C Fesler,6 Raphael B Stricker6 1Atkins Veterinary Services, Calgary, AB, Canada; 2Associate Clinic, Calgary, AB, Canada; 3Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, Moncton, NB, Canada; 4Martinez Veterinary Services, Calgary, AB, Canada; 5IGeneX Laboratories, Palo Alto, CA, USA; 6Union Square Medical Associates, San Francisco, CA, USACorrespondence: Raphael B StrickerUnion Square Medical Associates, 450 Sutter Street, Suite 1504, San Francisco, CA, 94108, USATel [phone]Fax [phone]Email [e-mail]: Although the erythema migrans (EM) skin rash is traditionally considered a hallmark of Lyme disease, other dermatological manifestations of the tickborne disease are less well known. We describe a 49-year-old woman with erosive genital ulcerations, secondary EM rashes and jagged skin lesions associated with Lyme disease. The skin rashes exhibited fibers characteristic of Morgellons disease. Molecular testing confirmed the presence of Borrelia DNA in both vaginal culture and serum specimens. In further studies on a secondary EM lesion containing filaments, Gömöri trichrome staining revealed the presence of collagen in the filaments, while Dieterle and anti-Borrelia immunostaining revealed intracellular and extracellular Borrelia organisms. Intracellular staining for Borrelia was also observed in lymphocytic infiltrates. Lyme disease may present with a variety of genital lesions and dermatological manifestations including Morgellons disease. Careful evaluation is required to determine the presence of Borrelia organisms associated with these dermopathies.Keywords: Lyme disease, Morgellons disease, erythema migrans, Borrelia burgdorferi, tickborne disease, spirochetes