Metabolic biosignature differentiates between Lyme disease, STARI

Researchers have identified a metabolic biosignature that may be used as a diagnostic tool to distinguish early Lyme disease from southern tick-associated rash illness, or STARI, two conditions that researchers said are often confused with one another.

According to John Belisle, PhD, professor in the department of microbiology, immunology and pathology at Colorado State University, and colleagues, both diseases are associated with similar symptoms, including erythematous skin lesions, and are coprevalent in the United States. Because existing tests for early Lyme disease have poor sensitivity (29% to 40%) and there are no laboratory tests available for STARI, the researchers said additional diagnostic methods are needed to improve patient management and disease surveillance.