[Meningoradiculitis caused by a spirochete (Borrelia burgdorferi) after arthropod bite].

Eight cases of meningoradiculitis (Garin-Bujadoux-Bannwarth's syndrome) are presented; the first case followed an "unidentified insect" bite and erythema chronicum migrans, whereas the second and third cases were not preceded by any documented insect bite or erythema; they occurred during summer in 1984 and 1985 and were characterized by cranial or radicular neuritis, lymphocytic meningitis, positive serology by immunofluorescence against Borrelia Burgdorferi and a good response to Penicillin (20 000 000 U during 14 days I.V.). Five other cases were observed in the same area as the first and second cases (Walloon Brabant) during the preceding summers; in two, serological proof of Borrelia Burgdorferi infection was obtained retrospectively. Lyme disease and Garin-Bujadoux-Bannwarth syndrome are both tick-born spirochetosis, due to two slightly different subtypes of Borrelia Burgdorferi. Their early neurological manifestations differ mainly by focalised pain on the bitten region in Garin-Bujadoux-Bannwarth's syndromes. This could be due to direct aggression of the peripheral nerve in Garin-Bujadoux-Bannwarth syndrome.