CO-LYME: the New Test that Detects Tick-Borne Co-Infections

Did you know that a single tick bite can transmit more than one infection at a time? 🦠

Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, is just one of them. In many cases, ticks can also spread other microorganisms that complicate diagnosis and treatment.

Therefore, at Teletest we have developed the CO-LYME panel, a serological study that analyzes the main co-infections transmitted by ticks in Europe. Its objective is to offer a more complete view of the patient’s infectious environment, helping healthcare professionals make more accurate decisions.

Why are Co-Infections Important?

When a tick transmits several pathogens at once, the disease may be more severe or present symptoms different from the usual. In fact, it is estimated that up to 45% of ticks carry more than one infectious agent.

These co-infections can make symptoms more persistent or treatments may not work as expected. Among the most frequent pathogens are:

• Anaplasma phagocytophilum → can cause fever, muscle pain, and blood disorders.
• Babesia divergens → a parasite that causes hemolysis and malaria-like symptoms.
• Bartonella henselae → bacteria related to chronic fatigue, neurological symptoms, and vascular disorders.

Who is this Study for?

The CO-LYME panel is designed for:

• People with symptoms consistent with Lyme but with atypical or prolonged evolution.
• Patients who do not improve after antibiotic treatment.
• Cases with fever, fatigue, or blood disorders without a clear cause.
• People with exposure to rural or endemic tick areas.

👉 It is recommended as an added value and differential diagnosis to also carry out a study to rule out Q Fever (caused by Coxiella burnetii), since this infection can cause symptoms similar to those of Lyme disease, such as fever or general malaise. Although it is not transmitted by the same ticks, nor is it directly related to Borrelia, it can help clarify the diagnosis in patients with similar symptoms.

Thanks to this comprehensive approach, the CO-LYME study facilitates the identification of persistent infections and improves therapeutic management.

🧬 At Teletest, we continue to innovate to offer more complete and personalized diagnoses, especially in complex pathologies of infectious origin such as Lyme disease.