At a 1909 research conference, Swedish dermatologist Arvid Afzelius presented a study about an expanding, ring-like lesion he had observed in an older woman following the bite of a sheep tick, naming the lesion erythema migrans.
In 1911, the skin condition now known as borrelial lymphocytoma was first described.
In 1930, the Swedish dermatologist Sven Hellerström was the first to propose that erythema migrans (EM) and neurological symptoms following a tick bite were related.
Starting in 1946, facilities in Sweden experimented with treating EM rashes with substances known to kill spirochetes.
In 1948, Carl Lennhoff published on his use of a special stain to microscopically observe what he believed were spirochetes in various types of skin lesions, including EM.
In 1949, Nils Thyresson was the first to treat ACA (Acrodermatitis Chronica Atrophicans) with penicillin.
In 1970, a dermatologist in Wisconsin named Rudolph Scrimenti recognized an EM lesion in a person after recalling a paper by Hellerström and treated the person with penicillin based on the European literature. This was the first documented case of EM in the United States.
In 1975, Lyme disease was diagnosed as a separate condition for the first time in Lyme, Connecticut.
In 1975, a cluster of cases, initially misdiagnosed as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, was identified in Lyme and Old Lyme, Connecticut. This led to the recognition of a new syndrome, later named Lyme disease, investigated by physicians David Snydman, Allen Steere and others.
Before 1976, the elements of B. burgdorferi sensu lato infection were called or known as tick-borne meningopolyneuritis, Garin-Bujadoux syndrome, Bannwarth syndrome, Afzelius's disease, Montauk Knee or sheep tick fever. Since 1976 the disease is most often referred to as Lyme disease, Lyme borreliosis or simply borreliosis.
In 1980, Allen Steere et al. began to test antibiotic regimens in adults with Lyme disease. Also in 1980, Jorge Benach provided Willy Burgdorfer with I. dammini [scapularis] ticks from Shelter Island, New York.
In June 1982, Willy Burgdorfer published his findings in Science, identifying the spirochete responsible for Lyme disease. The spirochete was subsequently named Borrelia burgdorferi in his honor.
In 1986, voluntary reporting of Lyme disease cases began in the UK and Ireland, with 68 cases recorded.
In 1987, B. burgdorferi spirochetes were identified in tick saliva, confirming the method of transmission occurred via tick salivary glands.
In 1988, there were 23 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in the UK.
A 1989 report found that 25% of forestry workers in the New Forest were seropositive for Lyme disease, as were between 2% and 4–5% of the general local population of the area.
In 1990, there were 19 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in the UK.
In 1991, the CDC implemented national surveillance of Lyme disease cases.
Jaenson et al. in 1992 considered that the European roe deer "does not appear to serve as a major reservoir of B. burgdorferi" (incompetent host for B. burgdorferi and TBE virus) but it is important for feeding the ticks.
The first reported case of Baggio-Yoshinari Syndrome (BYS), a Lyme-like disease, in Brazil was made in 1992 in Cotia, São Paulo.
On December 21, 1998, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved LYMErix, a recombinant vaccine against Lyme disease, for persons of ages 15 through 70, based on clinical trials showing 76% protective immunity after three doses.
In 1998, the vaccine LYMErix was available.
In February 2002, GlaxoSmithKline withdrew LYMErix from the U.S. market due to negative media coverage and fears of vaccine side effects, despite a lack of evidence that complaints were caused by the vaccine.
In 2002, LYMErix was discontinued.
LYMErix vaccine was available from 1998 to 2002.
In 2003, some researchers began to consider whether the dilution effect could mitigate the spread of Lyme disease. The dilution effect is a hypothesis that predicts that an increase in host biodiversity will result in a decrease in the number of vectors infected with B. burgdorferi.
In 2004, the book "Lab 257: The Disturbing Story of the Government's Secret Plum Island Germ Laboratory" fueled conspiracy theories alleging Lyme disease was a biological weapon from Plum Island.
In 2005, a study using climate suitability modeling of I. scapularis projected that climate change would cause a 213% increase in suitable vector habitat by 2080, with northward expansions in Canada, increased suitability in the central U.S., and decreased suitable habitat and vector retraction in the southern U.S.
In 2005, the ratio of Lyme disease infection reported to the United States CDC was 7.9 cases for every 100,000 persons. In the ten states where Lyme disease is most common, the average was 31.6 cases for every 100,000 persons.
A 2007 study suggests Borrelia burgdorferi infections are endemic to Mexico, from four cases reported between 1999 and 2000.
In 2008, a review of published studies concluded that the presence of forests or forested areas was the only variable that consistently elevated the risk of Lyme disease, while other environmental variables showed little or no concordance between studies.
In 2008, the documentary "Under Our Skin" was released, promoting controversial and unrecognized theories about "chronic Lyme disease".
In 2009, there were 973 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in the UK.
Tests on pet dogs in 2009 indicated that around 2.5% of ticks in the UK may be infected with Lyme disease, considerably higher than previously thought.
In 2010, mandatory reporting of Lyme disease, limited to laboratory test results, was required in the UK under the provisions of the Health Protection (Notification) Regulations 2010. Lyme disease is a notifiable disease in Scotland.
In 2010, there were 953 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in the UK.
The 2010 autopsy of Ötzi the Iceman, a 5,300-year-old mummy, revealed the presence of the DNA sequence of Borrelia burgdorferi, making him the earliest known human with Lyme disease.
Provisional figures for the first three quarters of 2011 showed a 26% increase in Lyme disease cases compared to the same period in 2010 in the UK.
In 2012, a model-based prediction by Leighton et al. suggested that the range of the I. scapularis tick would expand into Canada by 46 km/year over the next decade, primarily due to warming climatic temperatures.
In July 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted fast track designation to VLA15, a hexavalent (OspA) protein subunit-based vaccine candidate developed by Valneva.
As of 2018, the dilution effect is only supported in the Northeastern United States, and has been disproved in other parts of the world that also experience high Lyme disease incidence rates
In April 2020, Pfizer paid $130 million for the rights to the vaccine VLA15, and the companies are developing it together, performing multiple phase 2 trials.
A phase 3 trial of VLA15 was scheduled for late 2022, recruiting volunteers at test sites located across the northeastern United States and in Europe.
In 2022, the surveillance case definition for Lyme disease classified cases as confirmed, probable, and suspect.
In 2022, the vaccine candidate VLA15 was scheduled to start a phase 3 trial in the third quarter, with other research ongoing.
As of 2023, no human vaccines for Lyme disease were available. Multiple vaccines are available for the prevention of Lyme disease in dogs.
In 2023, a review found that Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) had similar pathogenesis despite different infectious origins. Treatment for PTLDS remains symptomatic, similar to the management of fibromyalgia or ME/CFS.
In 2023, clinical trials for human vaccines for Lyme disease were underway, but no vaccine was available to the public. Prevention methods included wearing protective clothing and using DEET or picaridin-based insect repellents.
In 2024, an analysis concluded that evidence to connect Baggio-Yoshinari Syndrome (BYS) to Borrelia bacteria was lacking.
In 2024, conspiracy theories about the origins of Lyme disease were further spread due to attention from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
In 2025, conspiracy theories about the origins of Lyme disease were further spread due to attention from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
A 2005 study projected that by 2080, climate change would cause a 213% increase in suitable vector habitat for I. scapularis, with northward expansions in Canada, increased suitability in the central U.S., and decreased suitable habitat and vector retraction in the southern U.S.
Pfizer Inc a global pharmaceutical and biotechnology company was founded...
Connecticut is a state located in the New England region...
Canada is a North American country spanning from the Atlantic...
Brazil is the largest country in South America and the...
Climate change encompasses global warming and its far-reaching effects on...
Mexico officially the United Mexican States is a North American...
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