Infectiologic differential diagnosis of chronic Lyme disease and so ...

In the differential diagnosis of Lyme disease and with regard to coinfection, the
importance of yersiniosis is primarily based on the disease manifestation of a so-
called reactive arthritis. As in Chlamydia infections and probably also in the
bartonellosis, the arthritis is very probably the consequence of a chronic persistent
infection [163, 164]. Since the so-called reactive arthritis in yersiniosis occasionally
also occurs in the scope of Reiter's triad, i.e. in connection with urethritis and uveitis,
the autoimmune processes are to be discussed with the pathophysiology. The
thyroiditis which frequently occurs in yersiniosis and which is very probably
expression of an autoimmune phenomenon as in LD is indicative of such an
association.
The anamnestic research subsequent to the early phase of yersiniosis makes an
important contribution to the recognition of chronic yersiniosis. The early phase of
yersiniosis is essentially characterized by two disease manifestations:
- Gradually beginning gastroenteritis
- Pharyngitis
The infection data and symptomatology of yersiniosis are compiled in Table 16.
Table 16
Yersiniosis (Y. enterocolitica)
Infection data, symptomatology
Pathogen:
- Yersinia enterocolitica
Transmission:
- Fecal-oral
Reservoir:
- Various vertebrates
Early phase:
- Gradual development of gastroenteritis
(for about one week)
- Gastroenteritis
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