Open AccessPrevalence of Borrelia Burgdorferi Infection in a Series of 98 Primary Cutaneous Lymphomas
Author(s) -
Ponzoni Maurilio,
Ferreri Andrés J. M.,
Mappa Silvia,
Pasini Elisa,
Govi Silvia,
Facchetti Fabio,
Fai Daniele,
Tucci Alessandra,
Vino Arianna,
Doglioni Claudio,
Berti Emilio,
Dolcetti Riccardo
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the oncologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.176
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1549-490X
pISSN - 1083-7159
DOI - 10.1634/theoncologist.2011-0108
Subject(s) - borrelia burgdorferi , mycosis fungoides , polymerase chain reaction , medicine , lymphoma , borrelia , cutaneous lymphoma , marginal zone , typing , borrelia burgdorferi infection , pathology , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , antibody , biology , b cell , genetics
Borrelia burgdorferi has been variably associated with different forms of primary cutaneous lymphoma. Differences in prevalence rates among reported studies could be a result of geographic variability or heterogeneity in the molecular approaches that have been employed. In the present study, we investigated the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato DNA in diagnostic tissue samples from fresh cutaneous biopsies of 98 primary cutaneous lymphomas and 19 normal skin controls. Three different polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocols targeting the hbb, flagellin , and Osp‐A genes were used. Direct sequencing of both sense and antisense strands of purified PCR products confirmed the specificity of the amplified fragments. Sequence specificity was assessed using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool, and MultAlin software was used to investigate the heterogeneity of target gene sequences across the different samples. Borrelia DNA was not detected in 19 controls, 23 cases of follicular lymphoma, 31 cases of extranodal marginal zone lymphoma, or 30 cases of mycosis fungoides. A single case of 14 diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma cases was positive for B. burgdorferi . This study does not support a pathogenic role of B. burgdorferi in primary cutaneous B‐ and T‐cell lymphomas from areas nonendemic for this microorganism and the consequent rationale for the adoption of antibiotic therapy in these patients.