02/24/2026
Tune in tomorrow at 12:30pm EST!!
This month we welcome Sue Faber and Liz Darling to the MMRC Speaker Series Stage!
Join us on February 25th at 12:30 pm for an hour on "Beyond the Bite: Perinatal Transmission of Lyme Disease"
For more information, check out the link https://mmrc.mcmaster.ca/events/mmrc-speaker-series-beyond-the-bite-perinatal-transmission-of-lyme-disease/!
In-utero transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi, the infectious spirochetal agent of Lyme disease (LD) has been described in both humans and animals. Currently, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Health Canada acknowledge the risk of this alternate mode of transmission. Adverse pregnancy outcomes reported with gestational LD include miscarriage, stillbirth, perinatal death and children born with varying clinical manifestations of congenital disease. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of gestational LD is associated with a significant decrease in the rate of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Limited research examining both gestational and congenital LD has resulted in significant research gaps, limited medical knowledge, and a lack of clinical resources for healthcare professionals. In addition, impacted patients and families face barriers to timely diagnosis, treatment and comprehensive medical care. Goals: We will review evidence pertaining to perinatal transmission of Lyme disease in both animals and humans; findings of our international survey about LD in pregnancy that aimed to investigate the impact of LD in pregnancy for the birthing person and their newborn; and key recommendations from an expert think tank on perinatal transmission of LD to advance the field.
