scholarly journals Identification of a New Borrelia Species among Small Mammals in Areas of Northern Spain Where Lyme Disease Is Endemic

2005 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 1336-1345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Horacio Gil ◽  
Marta Barral ◽  
Raquel Escudero ◽  
Ana L. García-Pérez ◽  
Pedro Anda
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Northern Spain ◽  
Borrelia Garinii ◽  
Questing Ticks ◽  
Reservoir Hosts

ABSTRACT The role of small mammals as reservoir hosts for Borrelia burgdorferi was investigated in several areas where Lyme disease is endemic in northern Spain. A low rate of infestation by Ixodes ricinus nymphs was found in the small mammal populations studied that correlated with the near-absence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato in 184 animals tested and with the lack of transmission of B. burgdorferi sensu lato to I. ricinus larvae that fed on them. In contrast, questing ticks collected at the same time and in the same areas were found to carry a highly variable B. burgdorferi sensu lato repertoire (B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia valaisiana, and Borrelia afzelii). Interestingly, the only isolate obtained from small mammals (R57, isolated from a bank vole) grouped by phylogenetic analyses with other Borrelia species but in a separate clade from the Lyme disease and relapsing fever organisms, suggesting that it is a new species. This new agent was widely distributed among small mammals, with infection rates of 8.5 to 12% by PCR. Moreover, a high seroprevalence to B. burgdorferi sensu lato was found in the animal sera, suggesting cross-reactivity between B. burgdorferi sensu lato and R57. Although small mammals do not seem to play an important role as reservoirs for B. burgdorferi sensu lato in the study area, they seem to be implicated in the maintenance of spirochetes similar to R57.

scholarly journals Association of Borrelia garinii and B. valaisiana with Songbirds in Slovakia

2003 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 2825-2830 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klára Hanincová ◽  
Veronika Taragelová ◽  
Juraj Koci ◽  
Stefanie M. Schäfer ◽  
Rosie Hails ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Dna Hybridization ◽  
Species Complex ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Nucleotide Sequencing ◽  
Borrelia Garinii ◽  
Questing Ticks ◽  
Reservoir Hosts

ABSTRACT In Europe, 6 of the 11 genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato are prevalent in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks. In most parts of Central Europe, B. afzelii, B. garinii, and B. valaisiana are the most frequent species, whereas B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. bissettii, and B. lusitaniae are rare. Previously, it has been shown that B. afzelii is associated with European rodents. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify reservoir hosts of B. garinii and B. valaisiana in Slovakia. Songbirds were captured in a woodland near Bratislava and investigated for engorged ticks. Questing I. ricinus ticks were collected in the same region. Both tick pools were analyzed for spirochete infections by PCR, followed by DNA-DNA hybridization and, for a subsample, by nucleotide sequencing. Three of the 17 captured songbird species were infested with spirochete-infected ticks. Spirochetes in ticks that had fed on birds were genotyped as B. garinii and B. valaisiana, whereas questing ticks were infected with B. afzelii, B. garinii, and B. valaisiana. Furthermore, identical ospA alleles of B. garinii were found in ticks that had fed on the birds and in questing ticks. The data show that songbirds are reservoir hosts of B. garinii and B. valaisiana but not of B. afzelii. This and previous studies confirm that B. burgdorferi sensu lato is host associated and that this bacterial species complex contains different ecotypes.

scholarly journals Molecular and Pathogenic Characterization of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Isolates from Spain

2000 ◽  
Vol 38 (11) ◽  
pp. 4026-4033 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Escudero ◽  
Marta Barral ◽  
Azucena Pérez ◽  
M. Mar Vitutia ◽  
Ana L. García-Pérez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽  
Erythema Migrans ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Lato ◽  
Northern Spain ◽  
Internal Organs ◽  
Borrelia Garinii ◽  
Questing Ticks ◽  
Serotype 5

Fifteen Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato isolates from questing ticks and skin biopsy specimens from erythema migrans patients in three different areas of Spain were characterized. Four different genospecies were found (nine Borrelia garinii, including the two human isolates, three B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, two B. valaisiana, and one B. lusitaniae), showing a diverse spectrum of B. burgdorferi sensu lato species. B. garinii isolates were highly variable in terms of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis pattern and OspA serotype, with four of the seven serotypes described. One of the human isolates was OspA serotype 5, the same found in four of seven tick isolates. The second human isolate was OspA serotype 3, which was not present in ticks from the same area. Seven B. garinii isolates were able to disseminate through the skin of C3H/HeN mice and to cause severe inflammation of joints. One of the two B. valaisianaisolates also caused disease in mice. Only one B. burgdorferi sensu stricto isolate was recovered from the urinary bladder. One isolate each of B. valaisiana and B. lusitaniae were not able to disseminate through the skin of mice or to infect internal organs. In summary, there is substantial diversity in the species and in the pathogenicity of B. burgdorferi sensu lato in areas in northern Spain where Lyme disease is endemic.

scholarly journals DNA Microarray Assessment of Putative Borrelia burgdorferi Lipoprotein Genes

2002 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. 3300-3303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fang Ting Liang ◽  
F. Kenneth Nelson ◽  
Erol Fikrig
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽  
Dna Microarray ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Borrelia Garinii ◽  
Borrelia Afzelii ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
The Individual

ABSTRACT A DNA microarray containing fragments of 137 Borrelia burgdorferi B31 putative lipoprotein genes was used to examine Lyme disease spirochetes. DNA from B. burgdorferi sensu stricto B31, 297, and N40; Borrelia garinii IP90; and Borrelia afzelii P/Gau was fluorescently labeled and hybridized to the microarray, demonstrating the degree to which the individual putative lipoprotein genes were conserved among the genospecies. These data show that a DNA microarray can globally examine the genes encoding B. burgdorferi lipoproteins.

scholarly journals Adaptation of Diverse Lyme Disease Spirochetes in a Natural Rodent Reservoir Host

2004 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 2442-2444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dania Richter ◽  
Birte Klug ◽  
Andrew Spielman ◽  
Franz-Rainer Matuschka
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Incubation Period ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Reservoir Host ◽  
Borrelia Afzelii ◽  
Wood Mice ◽  
Reservoir Hosts

ABSTRACT We compared the relative reservoir competence of European wood mice for two genospecies of Lyme disease spirochetes by analyzing susceptibility, intrinsic incubation period, and degree and duration of infectivity. Borrelia afzelii, specializing in particular reservoir hosts, is better adapted to those hosts than is the more generalist genospecies B. burgdorferi sensu stricto.

scholarly journals Seasonal Prevalence of Lyme Disease Spirochetes in a Heterothermic Mammal, the Edible Dormouse (Glis glis)

2014 ◽  
Vol 80 (12) ◽  
pp. 3615-3621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Fietz ◽  
Jürgen Tomiuk ◽  
Franz-Rainer Matuschka ◽  
Dania Richter
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Reservoir Host ◽  
Glis Glis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Transmission Cycle ◽  
Western Germany ◽  
Edible Dormice ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Reservoir Hosts

ABSTRACTIn Europe, dormice serve as competent reservoir hosts for particular genospecies of the tick-borne agent of Lyme disease (LD) and seem to support them more efficiently than do mice or voles. The longevity of edible dormice (Glis glis) and their attractiveness for ticks may result in a predominance of LD spirochetes in ticks questing in dormouse habitats. To investigate the role of edible dormice in the transmission cycle of LD spirochetes, we sampled skin tissue from the ear pinnae of dormice inhabiting five different study sites in south western Germany. Of 501 edible dormice, 12.6% harbored DNA of LD spirochetes. Edible dormice were infected most frequently with the pathogenic LD spirocheteBorrelia afzelii. The DNA ofB. gariniiandB. bavariensiswas detected in ca. 0.5% of the examined individuals. No spirochetal DNA was detectable in the skin of edible dormice until July, 6 weeks after they generally start to emerge from their obligate hibernation. Thereafter, the prevalence of spirochetal DNA in edible dormice increased during the remaining period of their 4 to 5 months of activity, reaching nearly 40% in September. Males were more than four times more likely to harbor LD spirochetes than females, and yearlings were almost twice more likely to be infected than adults. The seasonality of the prevalence of LD spirochetes in edible dormice was pronounced and may affect their role as a reservoir host in respect to other hosts.

Characteristics of Garden Dormice That Contribute to Their Capacity as Reservoirs for Lyme Disease Spirochetes

1999 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 707-711 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franz-Rainer Matuschka ◽  
Rainer Allgöwer ◽  
Andrew Spielman ◽  
Dania Richter
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Reservoir Capacity ◽  
Mouse Population ◽  
Vector Population ◽  
Reservoir Hosts

ABSTRACT To describe the contribution of garden dormice to the epizootiology of Lyme disease, we compared their reservoir capacity for these pathogens to that of other sympatric hosts. Garden dormice are trapped most abundantly during early spring and again during midsummer, when their offspring forage. They are closely associated with moist forests. Garden dormice serve as hosts to nymphal ticks far more frequently than do other small mammals. Spirochetal infection is most prevalent in dormice, and many more larval ticks acquire infection in the course of feeding on these than on other rodents in the study site. Mature dormice appear to contribute more infections to the vector population than juveniles do. Replete larval ticks generally detach while their dormouse hosts remain within their nests. The population of garden dormice contributes five- to sevenfold more infections to the vector population than the mouse population does. Their competence, nymphal feeding density, and preference for a tick-permissive habitat combine to favor garden dormice over other putative reservoir hosts of Lyme disease spirochetes.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence in Bats and Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi in Bat Ectoparasites

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 440
Author(s):  
Arinjay Banerjee ◽  
Kaushal Baid ◽  
Taylor Byron ◽  
Alyssa Yip ◽  
Caleb Ryan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Immunoblot Assay ◽  
Big Brown Bats ◽  
Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Stricto ◽  
Flab Gene ◽  
Elisa Data

The role of bats in the enzootic cycle of Lyme disease and relapsing fever-causing bacteria is a matter of speculation. In Canada, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (ss) is the genospecies that is responsible for most cases of Lyme disease in humans. In this study, we determined if big brown bats, Eptesicus fuscus, have been exposed to spirochetes from the genus Borrelia. We collected serum from 31 bats and tested them for the presence of anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We detected cross-reactive antibodies to Borrelia spp. in 14 of 31 bats. We confirmed the ELISA data using a commercial immunoblot assay. Pooled sera from ELISA-positive bats also cross-reacted with Borrelia antigens coated on the immunoblot strips, whereas pooled sera from ELISA-negative bats did not bind to Borrelia spp. antigens. Furthermore, to identify if bat ectoparasites, such as mites, can carry Borrelia spp., we analyzed DNA from 142 bat ectoparasites that were collected between 2003 and 2019. We detected DNA for the Borrelia burgdorferi flaB gene in one bat mite, Spinturnix americanus. The low detection rate of Borrelia burgdorferi DNA in bat ectoparasites suggests that bats are not reservoirs of this bacterium. Data from this study also raises intriguing questions about Borrelia infections in bats, including the role of humoral immunity and the ability of bats to be infected with Borrelia burgdorferi. This study can lead to more sampling efforts and controlled laboratory studies to identify if bats can be infected with Borrelia burgdorferi and the role of bat ectoparasites, such as S. americanus, in the transmission of this spirochete. Furthermore, we outlined reagents that can be used to adapt ELISA kits and immunoblot strips for use with bat sera.

scholarly journals Relationships of a Novel Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia spielmani sp. nov., with Its Hosts in Central Europe

2004 ◽  
Vol 70 (11) ◽  
pp. 6414-6419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dania Richter ◽  
Daniela B. Schlee ◽  
Rainer Allg�wer ◽  
Franz-Rainer Matuschka
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Genetic Characterization ◽  
Distinct Entity ◽  
Human Patient ◽  
Central European ◽  
Questing Ticks ◽  
Biological Relationship ◽  
Reservoir Hosts

ABSTRACT To determine whether the pathogenic variant of Lyme disease spirochetes, isolate A14S, is perpetuated in a particular reservoir-vector relationship, we screened vector ticks in various Central European sites for a related spirochete and determined its host association. A14S-like spirochetes infect numerous questing ticks in the Petite Camargue Alsacienne (PC). They frequently infect dormice, but no mice or voles. Garden dormice appear to be better reservoir hosts for A14S-like spirochetes than for Borrelia afzelii, because these spirochetes are retained longer and infect ticks more readily. Spirochetes associated with garden dormice in the PC site form a homologous entity with those isolated from a human patient in The Netherlands. Its unique biological relationship together with previous genetic characterization justifies designating this dormouse-associated genospecies as a distinct entity. Garden dormice serve as the main reservoir hosts of a novel genospecies, Borrelia spielmani sp. nov., one of several that cause Lyme disease in people.

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