We isolated spirochetes from the blood of 2 of 36 patients in Long Island and Westchester County, New York, who had signs and symptoms suggestive of Lyme disease. The spirochetes were morphologically similar and serologically identical to organisms recently found to infect lxodes dammini ticks, which are endemic to the area and have been epidemiologically implicated as vectors of Lyme disease. In both patients, there was a rise in specific antispirochetal antibodies in paired specimens of serum. We conclude that the l. dammini spirochete has an etiologic role in Lyme disease.

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There has been a significant increase in the incidence of Crohn's disease in Victorian children. The pattern of disease has also changed with colonic disease now more frequent, and inflammatory indices less abnormal. The increased use of endoscopy has established the frequent involvement of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Our study characterized a diverse phage community in the gut of CD patients. In this study, we have identified differences in phage composition between CD patients and control individuals. The large abundance of phages in CD ileum tissue and CD gut wash sample suggests a role of phage in CD development. The role of phage dysbiosis in CD is currently unknown but opens up a new area of research.