Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi DNA (B garinii or B afzelii) in morphea and lichen sclerosus et atrophicus tissues of German and Japanese but not of US patients.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the geographic and genospecific association of Borrelia with morphea and lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSA).

DESIGN: The association of Borrelia burgdorferi with morphea and LSA has been reported, but is still controversial. We conducted a retrospective survey of Borrelia DNA in skin biopsy specimens.

SETTINGS: The samples were collected from the outpatient clinic of university hospitals and a dermatopathology laboratory.

PATIENTS: Skin biopsy specimens (19 morphea and 34 LSA) were obtained from patients in the United States, Japan, and Germany. DNA samples were subjected to amplification with polymerase chain reaction for B burgdorferi flagellin gene, and for the genotype-specific detection of B burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia garinii, and Borrelia afzelii.

RESULTS: Five cases of morphea and 2 cases of LSA in Germany and Japan yielded positive signals for B garinii or B afzelii, the European species. None of the American samples were positive for Borrelia polymerase chain reaction. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto was not detected in any of the specimens.

CONCLUSION: Morphea and LSA in Germany and Japan can be related with European genotypes of Borrelia.