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 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 Relative incompetence of European rabbits for Lyme disease spirochaetes

Parasitology ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 297-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
F.-R. MATUSCHKA ◽  
T. W. SCHINKEL ◽  
B. KLUG ◽  
A. SPIELMAN ◽  
D. RICHTER
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Antibody Response ◽  
Ixodes Ricinus ◽  
Borrelia Afzelii ◽  
European Rabbits ◽  
Reservoir Hosts

To determine whether rabbits may serve as reservoir hosts for Lyme disease spirochaetes in Europe, we compared their competence as hosts for Borrelia afzelii, one of the most prevalent European spirochaetal variants, with that of the Mongolian jird. To infect rabbits or jirds, at least 3 nymphal or adult Ixodes ricinus ticks infected with spirochaetes fed to repletion on each animal. Whereas jirds readily acquired tick-borne Lyme disease spirochaetes and subsequently infected vector ticks, rabbits exposed to tick-borne spirochaetes rarely became infectious to ticks. Only the rabbit that was infectious to ticks developed an antibody response. To the extent that I. ricinus ticks feed on European rabbits, these mammals may be zooprophylactic by diverting vector ticks from more suitable reservoir competent hosts.

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.

Host contributions to the force of Borrelia burgdorferi and Babesia microti transmission differ at edges of and within a small habitat patch

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi K. Goethert ◽  
Sam R. Telford
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽  
Sampling Site ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Reservoir Host ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Babesia Microti ◽  
Habitat Patch ◽  
Generalist Species ◽  
Spatial Risk

In the northeastern United States, the emergence of Lyme disease has been associated, in part, with the increase of small forest patches. Such disturbed habitat is exploited by generalist species, such as white-footed mice, which are considered the host with the greatest reservoir capacity for the agents of Lyme disease ( Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto) and human babesiosis ( Babesia microti ). Spatial risk analyses have identified edge habitat as particularly risky. Using a retrotransposon-based quantitative PCR assay for host bloodmeal remnant identification, we directly measured whether the hosts upon which vector ticks fed differed at the edge or within the contiguous small habitat patch. Questing nymphal deer ticks, Ixodes dammini , the northern clade of Ixodes scapularis , were collected from either the edge or within a thicket on Nantucket Island over 3 transmission seasons and tested for evidence of infection as well as bloodmeal hosts. Tick bloodmeal hosts significantly differed by site as well as by year. Mice and deer were identified most often (49.9%), but shrews, rabbits and birds were also common. Ticks from the edge fed on a greater diversity of hosts than those from the thicket. Surprisingly, mice were not strongly associated with either infection at either sampling site (OR<2 for all). Although shrews were not the most common host utilized by ticks, they were highly associated with both infections at both sites (OR= 4.5 and 7.9 B. burgdorferi and 7.9 and 19.0 B. microti , edge and thicket). We conclude that reservoir hosts may differ in their contributions to infecting ticks between edge and contiguous vegetated patches. Importance Habitat fragmentation is thought to be a main factor in the emergence of Lyme disease and other of the deer tick-transmitted infections. The patchwork of forest and edges promotes altered biodiversity, favoring the abundance of generalist rodents such as white footed mice, heretofore considered a key tick and reservoir host in the northeastern U.S. We used tick bloodmeal analyses to directly identify the hosts from which nymphal deer ticks became infected. We demonstrate that there is considerable microfocality in host contributions to the cohort of infected ticks and that shrews, although they fed fewer ticks than mice, disproportionately influenced the force of pathogen transmission in our site. The venue of transmission of certain deer tick-transmitted agents may comprise a habitat scale of 10 meters or fewer and depend on alternative small mammal hosts such as shrews.

scholarly journals Serological evidence for the reservoir hosts of cowpox virus in British wildlife

1995 ◽  
Vol 115 (1) ◽  
pp. 185-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. C. Crouch ◽  
D. Baxby ◽  
C. M. McCracken ◽  
R. M. Gaskell ◽  
M. Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Western Europe ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Reservoir Host ◽  
Clethrionomys Glareolus ◽  
Cowpox Virus ◽  
Wild Rodents ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Wood Mice ◽  
Bank Voles ◽  
Reservoir Hosts

SummaryThe reservoir host of cowpox virus in Western Europe is not known, but epidemiological evidence from human and feline infections indicates that the virus is probably endemic in small wild rodents. Therefore, serum and tissue samples were collected from a variety of wild British mammals and some birds, and tested for evidence of Orthopoxvirus infection. Antibody reacting with cowpox virus was detected in 9/44 (20%) bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus), 8/24 (33%) field voles (Microtus agrestis), 17/86 (20%) wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) and 1/44 house mice (Mus musculus), but in no other animal species tested. Although virus was not isolated from any animal, this serological survey, together with other evidence, suggests that bank and field voles and wood mice are the main reservoir hosts of cowpox virus in Great Britain.

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 Incrimination of shrews as a reservoir for Powassan virus

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi K. Goethert ◽  
Thomas N. Mather ◽  
Richard W. Johnson ◽  
Sam R. Telford
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Reservoir Host ◽  
Host Seeking ◽  
Powassan Virus ◽  
Lineage 2 ◽  
Disease Agent ◽  
A Site ◽  
Lyme Disease Agent ◽  
Reservoir Hosts ◽  
The Brain

AbstractPowassan virus lineage 2 (deer tick virus) is an emergent threat to American public health, causing severe neurologic disease. Its life cycle in nature remains poorly understood. We use a host-specific retrotransposon-targeted real time PCR assay to test the hypothesis that white-footed mice, considered the main eastern U.S. reservoir of the coinfecting agent of Lyme disease, is the reservoir for deer tick virus. Of 20 virus-infected host-seeking nymphal black-legged ticks 65% fed on shrews and none on mice. The proportion of ticks feeding on shrews at a site is positively associated with prevalence of viral infection, but not the Lyme disease agent. Viral RNA is detected in the brain of one shrew. We conclude that shrews are a likely reservoir host for deer tick virus and that host bloodmeal analysis can provide direct evidence to incriminate reservoir hosts, thereby promoting our understanding of the ecology of tick-borne infections.

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