Lyme Disease

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/lyme_doc.htm

caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi
arthritis is often prominent symptom
Rash, heart disease, and nerve damage possible
hard to diagnose bec symptoms/signs mimic many other diseases

early stage (symptoms after 7 to 10 days):
often expanding skin rash (bullseye) hot, not painful
fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, fatigue, muscle aches, and joint pain

Nervous system abnormalities may include numbness, pain, weakness, Bell's palsy (paralysis of the facial muscles), visual disturbances, and meningitis symptoms such as fever, stiff neck, and severe headache. Other problems, which may not appear until weeks, months, or years after a tick bite, include memory or thinking difficulties or nerve damage in the arms and legs.

Varying degrees of permanent joint or nervous system damage may develop in patients with late chronic Lyme disease.

Infectious arthritis:
In cases caused by bacteria, early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics relieve the arthritis symptoms and cure the disease.


http://clinicaltrials.gov/

leading vector-borne disease in the United States

positive serum antibodies to B. burgdorferi confirmed by Western blot
according to the CDC criteria (IgG immunoblot is considered positive of
five of the following 10 bands are present: 18 kDa, 21 kDa (OspC), 28 kDa,
30 kDa, 41 kDa, 45 kDa, 58 kDa, 66 kDa, and 93 kDa

OspA vaccine for Lyme disease (Lymerix)

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS CONTROLS??
geography??

ANTIBODY DEFINITION: 
A Y-shaped protein on the surface of B cells that is secreted into the blood or lymph in response to an
     antigenic stimulus, such as a bacterium, virus, parasite, or transplanted organ, and that neutralizes the
     antigen by binding specifically to it; an immunoglobulin.