Lyme Borreliosis

Lyme borreliosis is one of the insufficiently studied zoonotic diseases with a natural focus and is characterized by the continuous expansion of geographically affected areas and increasing incidence worldwide. Experts suggest that it is gradually acquiring the characteristics of a pandemic infection, making it an increasing concern in various countries. These circumstances highlight the need for in-depth research. As a result, the number of publications on Lyme borreliosis is growing each year, particularly in North America and Europe. In the past 10 to 15 years, Ukraine has also started paying more attention to this issue. Researchers at Ivan Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University began studying Lyme borreliosis over ten years ago. In 2017, in agreement with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the Centre for Lyme Borreliosis and Other Tick-Borne Diseases Research was established at the University. In a short time, the Centre’s laboratory was equipped with the necessary apparatus, and research methods were developed in accordance with global standards. This progress was greatly facilitated by collaboration with scientists from the State Higher School of the Pope John Paul II (Biała Podlaska, Poland), the Institute of Rural Medicine (Lublin, Poland), IGeneX Inc. (Milpitas, California, USA), and researchers from Finland, France, and Spain. In 2019, our university received the Seeding Labs grant (Boston, USA), which enabled the acquisition of modern equipment for the laboratory. The main research was conducted as part of comprehensive research projects of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology, Skin and Venereal Diseases of Ivan Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University. These projects were titled: “Study of epidemiology, pathogenesis and clinic manifestations of Lyme borreliosis in endemic regions of Ukraine, including the Ternopil region, and improvement of its diagnostics, therapy, rehabilitation measures and prevention” (state registration number 0118U000357) and “Mono- and mixed tick-borne infections, improvement of treatment and diagnostic technologies and biosafety measures” (state registration number 0120U104348). Over fifty scientists and support staff participated in these projects.