Borrelia in dark field microscopy

 

For me as a doctor, too, the ambiguous laboratory diagnostics represented a serious problem. I was therefore looking for better diagnostic options and came across dark field microscopy. Since Borrelia move in a spiral, they are easy to recognize under the dark field microscope. Depending on the stages and environment in which they move, they can also take on other forms and mobility. Above all, they differ well from other forms of bacteria. Dark field microscopy is a special form of microscopy for assessing blood and the bacteria it contains at 1000x magnification. Only high-quality microscopes meet the requirements. Now the question may arise as to whether I am sure from these observations that it is Borrelia. The answer is: "No"!

We cannot specifically diagnose Borrelia with dark field microscopy, but we can diagnose spirochetes. Borrelia belong to the genus of spirochetes. There are a large number of spirochetes, the best known of which is the causative agent of syphilis. In my opinion, spirochetes in the blood are always a problem for the patient. In Europe, when we diagnose spirochetes, it is usually Borrelia. In the tropics, on the other hand, there can be completely different types of spirochetes. Spirochetes and thus also the Borrelia show another decisive feature in dark field microscopy. Since they are more intracellular, they are not initially found when examining the blood. They emerge from the red blood cells after 6 hours at the earliest. In my experience, it is much safer to examine the sample after 24 and 48 hours, since the spirochetes that have migrated can then be clearly seen.

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