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Brandt KS, Armstrong BA, Goodrich I, Gilmore RD. Borrelia miyamotoi BipA-like protein, BipM, is a candidate serodiagnostic antigen distinguishing between Lyme disease and relapsing fever Borrelia infections. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102324. [PMID: 38367587 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
A Borrelia miyamotoi gene with partial homology to bipA of relapsing fever spirochetes Borrelia hermsii and Borrelia turicatae was identified by a GenBank basic alignment search analysis. We hypothesized that this gene product may be an immunogenic antigen as described for other relapsing fever Borrelia (RFB) and could serve as a serological marker for B. miyamotoi infections. The B. miyamotoi gene was a truncated version about half the size of the B. hermsii and B. turicatae bipA with a coding sequence of 894 base pairs. The gene product had a calculated molecular size of 32.7 kDa (including the signal peptide). Amino acid alignments with B. hermsii and B. turicatae BipA proteins and with other B. miyamotoi isolates showed conservation at the carboxyl end. We cloned the B. miyamotoi bipA-like gene (herein named bipM) and generated recombinant protein for serological characterization and for antiserum production. Protease protection analysis demonstrated that BipM was surface exposed. Serologic analyses using anti-B. miyamotoi serum samples from tick bite-infected and needle inoculated mice showed 94 % positivity against BipM. The 4 BipM negative serum samples were blotted against another B. miyamotoi antigen, BmaA, and two of them were seropositive resulting in 97 % positivity with both antigens. Serum samples from B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.)-infected mice were non-reactive against rBipM by immunoblot. Serum samples from Lyme disease patients were also serologically negative against BipM except for 1 sample which may have indicated a possible co-infection. A recently published study demonstrated that B. miyamotoi BipM was non-reactive against serum samples from B. hermsii, Borrelia parkeri, and B. turicatae infected animals. These results show that BipM has potential for a B. miyamotoi-infection specific and sensitive serodiagnostic to differentiate between Lyme disease and various RFB infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin S Brandt
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Brittany A Armstrong
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Irina Goodrich
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Robert D Gilmore
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
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2
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Hejazian SM, Pirmoradi S, Zununi Vahed S, Kumar Roy R, Hosseiniyan Khatibi SM. An update on Glycerophosphodiester Phosphodiesterases; From Bacteria to Human. Protein J 2024; 43:187-199. [PMID: 38491249 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-024-10190-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
The hydrolysis of deacylated glycerophospholipids into sn-glycerol 3-phosphate and alcohol is facilitated by evolutionarily conserved proteins known as glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterases (GDPDs). These proteins are crucial for the pathogenicity of bacteria and for bioremediation processes aimed at degrading organophosphorus esters that pose a hazard to both humans and the environment. Additionally, GDPDs are enzymes that respond to multiple nutrients and could potentially serve as candidate genes for addressing deficiencies in zinc, iron, potassium, and especially phosphate in important plants like rice. In mammals, glycerophosphodiesterases (GDEs) play a role in regulating osmolytes, facilitating the biosynthesis of anandamine, contributing to the development of skeletal muscle, promoting the differentiation of neurons and osteoblasts, and influencing pathological states. Due to their capacity to enhance a plant's ability to tolerate various nutrient deficiencies and their potential as pharmaceutical targets in humans, GDPDs have received increased attention in recent times. This review provides an overview of the functions of GDPD families as vital and resilient enzymes that regulate various pathways in bacteria, plants, and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Saeed Pirmoradi
- Clinical Research Development Unit of Tabriz Valiasr Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, K.N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Seyed Mahdi Hosseiniyan Khatibi
- Kidney Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
- Clinical Research Development Unit of Tabriz Valiasr Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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Duan L, Zhang L, Hou X, Bao Z, Zeng Y, He L, Liu Z, Zhou H, Hao Q, Dong A. Surveillance of tick-borne bacteria infection in ticks and forestry populations in Inner Mongolia, China. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1302133. [PMID: 38487180 PMCID: PMC10938913 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1302133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Ticks are one of the most important vectors that can transmit pathogens to animals and human beings. This study investigated the dominant tick-borne bacteria carried by ticks and tick-borne infections in forestry populations in Arxan, Inner Mongolia, China. Ticks were collected by flagging from May 2020 to May 2021, and blood samples were collected from individuals at high risk of acquiring tick-borne diseases from March 2022 to August 2023. The pooled DNA samples of ticks were analyzed to reveal the presence of tick-borne bacteria using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rDNA V3-V4 region, and species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) related to sequencing was performed to confirm the presence of pathogenic bacteria in individual ticks and human blood samples. All sera samples were examined for anti-SFGR using ELISA and anti-B. burgdorferi using IFA and WB. A total of 295 ticks (282 Ixodes persulcatus and 13 Dermacentor silvarum) and 245 human blood samples were collected. Rickettsia, Anaplasma, Borrelia miyamotoi, and Coxiella endosymbiont were identified in I. persulcatus by high-throughput sequencing, while Candidatus R. tarasevichiae (89.00%, 89/100), B. garinii (17.00%, 17/100), B. afzelii (7.00%, 7/100), and B. miyamotoi (7.00%, 7/100) were detected in I. persulcatus, as well the dual co-infection with Candidatus R. tarasevichiae and B. garinii were detected in 13.00% (13/100) of I. persulcatus. Of the 245 individuals, B. garinii (4.90%, 12/245), R. slovaca (0.82%, 2/245), and C. burnetii (0.41%, 1/245) were detected by PCR, and the sequences of the target genes of B. garinii detected in humans were identical to those detected in I. persulcatus. The seroprevalence of anti-SFGR and anti-B. burgdorferi was 5.71% and 13.47%, respectively. This study demonstrated that Candidatus R. tarasevichiae and B. garinii were the dominant tick-borne bacteria in I. persulcatus from Arxan, and that dual co-infection with Candidatus R. tarasevichiae and B. garinii was frequent. This is the first time that B. miyamotoi has been identified in ticks from Arxan and R. solvaca has been detected in humans from Inner Mongolia. More importantly, this study demonstrated the transmission of B. garinii from ticks to humans in Arxan, suggesting that long-term monitoring of tick-borne pathogens in ticks and humans is important for the prevention and control of tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Like Duan
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Xuexia Hou
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Zihao Bao
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Zeng
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Lijuan He
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Zeliang Liu
- Affiliated Hospital of North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | - Haijian Zhou
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Qin Hao
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Aiying Dong
- Affiliated Hospital of North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
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Shah JS, Burrascano JJ, Ramasamy R. Recombinant protein immunoblots for differential diagnosis of tick-borne relapsing fever and Lyme disease. J Vector Borne Dis 2023; 60:353-364. [PMID: 38174512 DOI: 10.4103/0972-9062.383641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease (LD) is caused by a group of tick-borne bacteria of the genus Borrelia termed Lyme disease Borreliae (LDB). The detection of serum antibodies to specific LDB antigens is widely used to support diagnosis of LD. Recent findings highlight a need for serological tests that can differentiate LD from tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) caused by a separate group of Borrelia species termed relapsing fever Borreliae. This is because LD and TBRF share some clinical symptoms and can occur in overlapping locations. The development of serological tests for TBRF is at an early stage compared with LD. This article reviews the application of line immunoblots (IBs), where recombinant proteins applied as lines on nitrocellulose membrane strips are used to detect antibodies in patient sera, for the diagnosis and differentiation of LD and TBRF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyotsna S Shah
- IGeneX Inc. Milpitas; ID-FISH Technology Inc., California, USA
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McCormick DW, Brown CM, Bjork J, Cervantes K, Esponda-Morrison B, Garrett J, Kwit N, Mathewson A, McGinnis C, Notarangelo M, Osborn R, Schiffman E, Sohail H, Schwartz AM, Hinckley AF, Kugeler KJ. Characteristics of Hard Tick Relapsing Fever Caused by Borrelia miyamotoi, United States, 2013-2019. Emerg Infect Dis 2023; 29. [PMID: 37610298 PMCID: PMC10461660 DOI: 10.3201/eid2909.221912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi, transmitted by Ixodes spp. ticks, was recognized as an agent of hard tick relapsing fever in the United States in 2013. Nine state health departments in the Northeast and Midwest have conducted public health surveillance for this emerging condition by using a shared, working surveillance case definition. During 2013-2019, a total of 300 cases were identified through surveillance; 166 (55%) were classified as confirmed and 134 (45%) as possible. Median age of case-patients was 52 years (range 1-86 years); 52% were male. Most cases (70%) occurred during June-September, with a peak in August. Fever and headache were common symptoms; 28% of case-patients reported recurring fevers, 55% had arthralgia, and 16% had a rash. Thirteen percent of patients were hospitalized, and no deaths were reported. Ongoing surveillance will improve understanding of the incidence and clinical severity of this emerging disease.
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Parise CM, Bai Y, Brandt KS, Ford SL, Maes S, Replogle AJ, Kneubehl AR, Lopez JE, Eisen RJ, Hojgaard A. A serological assay to detect and differentiate rodent exposure to soft tick and hard tick relapsing fever infections in the United States. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102167. [PMID: 36965260 PMCID: PMC10956445 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023]
Abstract
Human cases of relapsing fever (RF) in North America are caused primarily by Borrelia hermsii and Borrelia turicatae, which are spread by argasid (soft) ticks, and by Borrelia miyamotoi, which is transmitted by ixodid (hard) ticks. In some regions of the United States, the ranges of the hard and soft tick RF species are known to overlap; in many areas, recorded ranges of RF spirochetes overlap with Lyme disease (LD) group Borrelia spirochetes. Identification of RF clusters or cases detected in unusual geographic localities might prompt public health agencies to investigate environmental exposures, enabling prevention of additional cases through locally targeted mitigation. However, exposure risks and mitigation strategies differ among hard and soft tick RF, prompting a need for additional diagnostic strategies that differentiate hard tick from soft tick RF. We evaluated the ability of new and previously described recombinant antigens in serological assays to differentiate among prior exposures in mice to LD, soft or hard tick RF spirochetes. We extracted whole-cell protein lysates from RF Borrelia cultures and synthesized six recombinant RF antigens (Borrelia immunogenic protein A (BipA) derived from four species of RF Borrelia, glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase (GlpQ), and Borrelia miyamotoi membrane antigen A (BmaA)) to detect reactivity in laboratory derived (Peromyscus sp. and Mus sp.) mouse serum infected with RF and LD Borrelia species. Among 44 Borrelia exposed mouse samples tested, all five mice exposed to LD spirochetes were correctly differentiated from the 39 mice exposed to RF Borrelia using the recombinant targets. Of the 39 mice exposed to RF spirochetes, 28 were accurately categorized to species of exposure (71%). Segregation among soft tick RF species (Borrelia hermsii, Borrelia parkeri and Borrelia turicatae) was inadequate (58%) owing to observed cross-reactivity among recombinant BipA protein targets. However, among the 28 samples accurately separated to species, all were accurately assigned to soft tick or hard tick RF type. Although not adequately specific to accurately categorize exposure to soft tick RF species, the recombinant BipA protein targets from soft and hard tick RF species show utility in accurately discriminating mouse exposures to LD or RF Borrelia, and accurately segregate hard tick from soft tick RF Borrelia exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Parise
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Ying Bai
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Kevin S Brandt
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Shelby L Ford
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Sarah Maes
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Adam J Replogle
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Alexander R Kneubehl
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine One Baylor Plaza, BCM113, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Job E Lopez
- Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine One Baylor Plaza, BCM113, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Andrias Hojgaard
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA.
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El Hadji Ibrahima N, Diatta G, Adama Zan D, Bassene H, Sokhna C, Parola P. Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction from Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests to Detect Borrelia crocidurae, the Agent of Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever, in Febrile Patients in Senegal. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2023; 108:968-976. [PMID: 36913922 PMCID: PMC10160891 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In endemic malaria areas, Plasmodium is currently diagnosed mainly through the use of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). However, in Senegal, many causes of fever remain unknown. Tick-borne relapsing fever, an often-neglected public health problem, is the main cause of consultation for acute febrile illness after malaria and flu in rural areas. Our objective was to test the feasibility of extracting and amplifying DNA fragments by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) from malaria-negative RDTs for Plasmodium falciparum (malaria Neg RDTs P.f) to detect Borrelia spp. and other bacteria. Between January and December 2019, malaria Neg RDTs P.f were collected on a quarterly basis in 12 health facilities in four regions of Senegal. The DNA extracted from the malaria Neg RDTs P.f was tested using qPCR and the results were confirmed by standard PCR and sequencing. Only Borrelia crocidurae DNA was detected in 7.22% (159/2,202) of RDTs. The prevalence of B. crocidurae DNA was higher in July (16.47%, 43/261) and August (11.21%, 50/446). The annual prevalence was 9.2% (47/512) and 5.0% (12/241) in Ngayokhem and Nema-Nding, respectively, health facilities in the Fatick region. Our study confirms that B. crocidurae infection is a frequent cause of fever in Senegal, with a high prevalence of cases in health facilities in the regions of Fatick and Kaffrine. Malaria Neg RDTs P.f are potentially a good source of pathogen sampling for the molecular identification of other causes of fever of unknown origin, even in the most remote areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ndiaye El Hadji Ibrahima
- Aix Marseille Univ, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), APHM, SSA, Vecteurs–Infections Tropicales et Méditerranéennes (VITROME), Marseille, France
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU) Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- VITROME, IRD UMR 257, Campus International IRD-UCAD Hann, Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Georges Diatta
- VITROME, IRD UMR 257, Campus International IRD-UCAD Hann, Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Diarra Adama Zan
- Aix Marseille Univ, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), APHM, SSA, Vecteurs–Infections Tropicales et Méditerranéennes (VITROME), Marseille, France
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU) Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Hubert Bassene
- VITROME, IRD UMR 257, Campus International IRD-UCAD Hann, Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Cheikh Sokhna
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU) Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- VITROME, IRD UMR 257, Campus International IRD-UCAD Hann, Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Philippe Parola
- Aix Marseille Univ, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), APHM, SSA, Vecteurs–Infections Tropicales et Méditerranéennes (VITROME), Marseille, France
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU) Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
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Burde J, Bloch EM, Kelly JR, Krause PJ. Human Borrelia miyamotoi Infection in North America. Pathogens 2023; 12:553. [PMID: 37111439 PMCID: PMC10145171 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12040553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi is an emerging pathogen that causes a febrile illness and is transmitted by the same hard-bodied (ixodid) ticks that transmit several other pathogens, including Borrelia species that cause Lyme disease. B. miyamotoi was discovered in 1994 in Ixodes persulcatus ticks in Japan. It was first reported in humans in 2011 in Russia. It has subsequently been reported in North America, Europe, and Asia. B. miyamotoi infection is widespread in Ixodes ticks in the northeastern, northern Midwestern, and far western United States and in Canada. In endemic areas, human B. miyamotoi seroprevalence averages from 1 to 3% of the population, compared with 15 to 20% for B. burgdorferi. The most common clinical manifestations of B. miyamotoi infection are fever, fatigue, headache, chills, myalgia, arthralgia, and nausea. Complications include relapsing fever and rarely, meningoencephalitis. Because clinical manifestations are nonspecific, diagnosis requires laboratory confirmation by PCR or blood smear examination. Antibiotics are effective in clearing infection and are the same as those used for Lyme disease, including doxycycline, tetracycline, erythromycin, penicillin, and ceftriaxone. Preventive measures include avoiding areas where B. miyamotoi-infected ticks are found, landscape management, and personal protective strategies such as protective clothing, use of acaricides, and tick checks with rapid removal of embedded ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jed Burde
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Evan M. Bloch
- Division of Transfusion Medicine, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21217, USA
| | - Jill R. Kelly
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Peter J. Krause
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
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Vázquez-Guerrero E, Gordillo-Pérez G, Ríos-Sarabia N, Lopez JE, Ibarra JA. Case Report: Exposure to Relapsing Fever Group Borreliae in Patients with Undifferentiated Febrile Illness in Mexico. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2023; 108:510-512. [PMID: 36646078 PMCID: PMC9978560 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Relapsing fever (RF) borreliosis is a neglected disease in Mexico. A retrospective serological survey using diagnostic antigens GlpQ and BipA from Borrelia turicatae was performed to evaluate human exposure to RF borreliae. Seventy serum samples were used from a cohort of patients with undifferentiated febrile illness in Mexico. Four samples were positive to GlpQ and three to BipA. Results indicate that RF borreliae continue to circulate in regions of Mexico and pose a risk to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin Vázquez-Guerrero
- Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Guadalupe Gordillo-Pérez
- Unidad de Investigación Médica de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Nora Ríos-Sarabia
- Unidad de Investigación Médica de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Job E. Lopez
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - J. Antonio Ibarra
- Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
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10
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Bubanová D, Fučíková AM, Majláth I, Pajer P, Bjelková K, Majláthová V. The first detection of relapsing fever spirochete Borrelia miyamotoi in Ixodes ricinus ticks from the northeast Czech Republic. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:102042. [PMID: 36126494 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi, a relapsing fever spirochete, is considered a human pathogen. Knowledge of this borrelia is currently limited. Data about its potential impact on public health, circulation in nature, or its occurrence in natural environments are insufficient. For our study, a total of 505 questing Ixodes ricinus ticks (337 nymphs, 85 females and 83 males) from Hradec Králové Region in the Czech Republic were collected. Additionally, 160 winged Lipoptena deer keds from Hradec Králové Region, from Pardubice Region, Czech Republic, and from one location in western Slovakia were collected. The presence of B. miyamotoi in ticks and deer keds was determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting a gene encoding glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase (glpQ), antigenic protein specific to the relapsing fever spirochetes. Borrelia miyamotoi was identified in six nymphs and four females of I. ricinus ticks. The overall prevalence was 2%. None of the examined Lipoptena specimens were found to be infected. Although no human case of infection with B. miyamotoi has been reported in the Czech Republic yet, this spirochete is widespread in ticks, and therefore the risk of human infection exists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Bubanová
- Institute of Biology and Ecology, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Šrobárova 2, Košice 041 80, Slovak Republic
| | - Alena Myslivcová Fučíková
- Department of Biology, University of Hradec Králové, Hradecká 1285, Hradec Králové 500 03, Czech Republic
| | - Igor Majláth
- Institute of Biology and Ecology, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Šrobárova 2, Košice 041 80, Slovak Republic.
| | - Petr Pajer
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, Prague 142 20, Czech Republic
| | - Karolína Bjelková
- Department of Biology, University of Hradec Králové, Hradecká 1285, Hradec Králové 500 03, Czech Republic
| | - Viktória Majláthová
- Institute of Biology and Ecology, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Šrobárova 2, Košice 041 80, Slovak Republic
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Röttgerding F, Njeru J, Schlüfter E, Latz A, Mahdavi R, Steinhoff U, Cutler SJ, Besier S, Kempf VAJ, Fingerle V, Kraiczy P. Novel approaches for the serodiagnosis of louse-borne relapsing fever. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:983770. [PMID: 36204641 PMCID: PMC9530196 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.983770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) caused by B. recurrentis is a poverty-related and neglected infectious disease with an endemic focus in the Horn of Africa. Re-emergence of the disease occurred in Europe during the refugee crisis in 2015 and sporadic outbreaks were frequently reported in Eastern Africa where poor settings lack affordable diagnostics. Currently, there are no validated in vitro assays available for the serodiagnosis of LBRF. The aim of this study was to develop novel and reliable immunoassays by investigating clinically suspected and culture-confirmed serum samples from LBRF patients and a broad panel of serum samples from patients with other spirochetal, bacterial, and parasitic diseases. We identified two immunoreactive antigens (complement-inhibiting protein CihC and the glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase GlpQ of B. recurrentis) as the most promising target candidates leading to the evaluation of two immunoassays (line immunoblot and ELISA) for IgM and IgG. To optimize the IgM immunoassay, we conducted a bioinformatic approach to localize the relevant immunogenic regions within CihC. By utilizing a N-terminal CihC fragment, the sensitivity and specificity of both immunoassays (CihC and GlpQ) were high (IgM: sensitivity 100%, specificity of 89.9%, IgG: sensitivity 100%, specificity 99.2%). In conclusion, our findings indicate the diagnostic potential of CihC and GlpQ as valuable markers for the serodiagnosis of LBRF even at early time points of infection. Here, we provide strong evidence for the utilization of these immunoassays as reliable tools in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Röttgerding
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - John Njeru
- Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Andreas Latz
- NovaTec Immundiagnostica GmbH, Dietzenbach, Germany
| | - Rouzbeh Mahdavi
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Steinhoff
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Sally J. Cutler
- School of Health, Sports & Bioscience, University of East London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Silke Besier
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Volkhard A. J. Kempf
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Volker Fingerle
- National Reference Center for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Peter Kraiczy
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
- *Correspondence: Peter Kraiczy,
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12
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Gandhi S, Narasimhan S, Workineh A, Mamula M, Yoon J, Krause PJ, Farhadian SF. Borrelia miyamotoi Meningoencephalitis in an Immunocompetent Patient. Open Forum Infect Dis 2022; 9:ofac295. [PMID: 35873293 PMCID: PMC9301576 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofac295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi is an underdiagnosed cause of tick-borne illness in endemic regions and, in rare cases, causes neurological disease in immunocompetent patients. Here, we present a case of serologically confirmed Borrelia miyamotoi meningoencephalitis in an otherwise healthy patient who rapidly improved following initiation of antibiotic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiv Gandhi
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sukanya Narasimhan
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Aster Workineh
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Mark Mamula
- Section of Rheumatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jennifer Yoon
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Peter J Krause
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health and Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Shelli F Farhadian
- Correspondence: Shelli Farhadian, 135 College St, New Haven, CT 06510 ()
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13
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Curtis MW, Krishnavajhala A, Kneubehl AR, Embers ME, Gettings JR, Yabsley MJ, Lopez JE. Characterization of Immunological Responses to Borrelia Immunogenic Protein A (BipA), a Species-Specific Antigen for North American Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0172221. [PMID: 35579456 PMCID: PMC9241729 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01722-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is a neglected vector-borne bacterial disease distributed worldwide. Borrelia turicatae, Borrelia parkeri, and Borrelia hermsii are three argasid-borne TBRF species previously implicated in human disease in North America. TBRF is likely underdiagnosed due to its nonspecific symptoms and poorly developed diagnostic tests. Studies suggest that the Borrelia immunogenic protein A (BipA) is specific to TBRF Borrelia but heterogenic between species. In this study, we hypothesized that antibody responses generated to BipA are specific to the North American TBRF species infecting a given animal. To test this, we characterized the expression and localization of native BipA in North American species of TBRF Borrelia. We also infected mice by needle inoculation or tick bite with B. turicatae, B. hermsii, or B. parkeri and evaluated serum sample reactivity to recombinant BipA (rBipA) that was produced from each species. Furthermore, serum samples from nonhuman primates and domestic dogs experimentally infected with B. turicatae were assessed. Lastly, we tested human Lyme disease (LD) serum samples to determine potential cross-reactivity to rBipA generated from B. turicatae, B. parkeri, and B. hermsii. Our findings indicate that rBipA has the potential to distinguish between infections of LD- and TBRF-causing spirochetes and that antibody responses were more robust toward the Borrelia species causing infection. This work further supports that rBipA can likely distinguish between B. turicatae, B. hermsii, and B. parkeri infections in mice, canines, and nonhuman primates. IMPORTANCEBorrelia species transmitted by soft or hard ticks cause tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF). This is a debilitating disease distributed worldwide but is likely underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed as Lyme disease due to poorly developed diagnostic tests. Borrelia turicatae, Borrelia parkeri, and Borrelia hermsii are three TBRF species previously implicated in human disease in North America. Commonly used diagnostic methods do not identify the species causing infection. In this study, we evaluated the potential of recombinant Borrelia immunogenic protein A (rBipA) as a diagnostic antigen capable of distinguishing between infections of TBRF Borrelia species. We show that serum from mice, canines, and nonhuman primates infected with B. turicatae, B. parkeri, or B. hermsii react more strongly to the rBipA from the species causing infection. Furthermore, sera from Lyme disease patients failed to cross-react with our rBipA proteins, indicating the potential to use rBipA as a species-specific diagnostic antigen for TBRF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael W. Curtis
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Aparna Krishnavajhala
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Alexander R. Kneubehl
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Monica E. Embers
- Division of Immunology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University Health Sciences, Covington, Louisiana, USA
| | - Jenna R. Gettings
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Michael J. Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Job E. Lopez
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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14
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Kneubehl AR, Krishnavajhala A, Leal SM, Replogle AJ, Kingry LC, Bermúdez SE, Labruna MB, Lopez JE. Comparative genomics of the Western Hemisphere soft tick-borne relapsing fever borreliae highlights extensive plasmid diversity. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:410. [PMID: 35641918 PMCID: PMC9158201 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08523-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is a globally prevalent, yet under-studied vector-borne disease transmitted by soft and hard bodied ticks. While soft TBRF (sTBRF) spirochetes have been described for over a century, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms facilitating vector and host adaptation is poorly understood. This is due to the complexity of their small (~ 1.5 Mb) but fragmented genomes that typically consist of a linear chromosome and both linear and circular plasmids. A majority of sTBRF spirochete genomes' plasmid sequences are either missing or are deposited as unassembled sequences. Consequently, our goal was to generate complete, plasmid-resolved genomes for a comparative analysis of sTBRF species of the Western Hemisphere. RESULTS Utilizing a Borrelia specific pipeline, genomes of sTBRF spirochetes from the Western Hemisphere were sequenced and assembled using a combination of short- and long-read sequencing technologies. Included in the analysis were the two recently isolated species from Central and South America, Borrelia puertoricensis n. sp. and Borrelia venezuelensis, respectively. Plasmid analyses identified diverse sequences that clustered plasmids into 30 families; however, only three families were conserved and syntenic across all species. We also compared two species, B. venezuelensis and Borrelia turicatae, which were isolated ~ 6,800 km apart and from different tick vector species but were previously reported to be genetically similar. CONCLUSIONS To truly understand the biological differences observed between species of TBRF spirochetes, complete chromosome and plasmid sequences are needed. This comparative genomic analysis highlights high chromosomal synteny across the species yet diverse plasmid composition. This was particularly true for B. turicatae and B. venezuelensis, which had high average nucleotide identity yet extensive plasmid diversity. These findings are foundational for future endeavors to evaluate the role of plasmids in vector and host adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander R Kneubehl
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Sebastián Muñoz Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Adam J Replogle
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Luke C Kingry
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Sergio E Bermúdez
- Medical Entomology Department, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Research, Panamá City, Panamá
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva E Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária E Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Job E Lopez
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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15
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Jakab Á, Kahlig P, Kuenzli E, Neumayr A. Tick borne relapsing fever - a systematic review and analysis of the literature. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010212. [PMID: 35171908 PMCID: PMC8887751 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is a zoonosis caused by various Borrelia species transmitted to humans by both soft-bodied and (more recently recognized) hard-bodied ticks. In recent years, molecular diagnostic techniques have allowed to extend our knowledge on the global epidemiological picture of this neglected disease. Nevertheless, due to the patchy occurrence of the disease and the lack of large clinical studies, the knowledge on several clinical aspects of the disease remains limited. In order to shed light on some of these aspects, we have systematically reviewed the literature on TBRF and summarized the existing data on epidemiology and clinical aspects of the disease. Publications were identified by using a predefined search strategy on electronic databases and a subsequent review of the reference lists of the obtained publications. All publications reporting patients with a confirmed diagnosis of TBRF published in English, French, Italian, German, and Hungarian were included. Maps showing the epidemiogeographic mosaic of the different TBRF Borrelia species were compiled and data on clinical aspects of TBRF were analysed. The epidemiogeographic mosaic of TBRF is complex and still continues to evolve. Ticks harbouring TBRF Borrelia have been reported worldwide, with the exception of Antarctica and Australia. Although only molecular diagnostic methods allow for species identification, microscopy remains the diagnostic gold standard in most clinical settings. The most suggestive symptom in TBRF is the eponymous relapsing fever (present in 100% of the cases). Thrombocytopenia is the most suggestive laboratory finding in TBRF. Neurological complications are frequent in TBRF. Treatment is with beta-lactams, tetracyclines or macrolids. The risk of Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (JHR) appears to be lower in TBRF (19.3%) compared to louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) (55.8%). The overall case fatality rate of TBRF (6.5%) and LBRF (4-10.2%) appears to not differ. Unlike LBRF, where perinatal fatalities are primarily attributable to abortion, TBRF-related perinatal fatalities appear to primarily affect newborns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ákos Jakab
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Kahlig
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Esther Kuenzli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Neumayr
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia
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16
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Bubanová D, Majláth I, Vargová B, Pipová N, Szekeres S, Majláthová V. Prevalence of relapsing fever spirochete
Borrelia miyamotoi
in
Ixodes ricinus
ticks from eastern Slovakia. Zoonoses Public Health 2022; 69:242-247. [DOI: 10.1111/zph.12914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Igor Majláth
- Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice Košice Slovak Republic
| | - Blažena Vargová
- Applied Research Center University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice Kosice Slovak Republic
| | - Natália Pipová
- Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice Košice Slovak Republic
| | - Sándor Szekeres
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest Hungary
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17
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Tobudic S, Burgmann H, Stanek G, Winkler S, Schötta AM, Obermüller M, Markowicz M, Lagler H. Human Borrelia miyamotoi Infection, Austria. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 26:2201-2204. [PMID: 32818401 PMCID: PMC7454072 DOI: 10.3201/eid2609.191501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We report a human case of Borrelia miyamotoi infection diagnosed in Austria. Spirochetes were detected in Giemsa-stained blood smears. The presence of B. miyamotoi in the patient’s blood was confirmed by PCR, and phylogenetic analysis identified an infection with a strain from Europe.
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18
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Are other tick-borne infections overlooked in patients investigated for Lyme neuroborreliosis? A large retrospective study from South-eastern Sweden. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101759. [PMID: 34161869 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In Europe, the hard tick Ixodes ricinus is considered the most important vector of human zoonotic diseases. Human pathogenic agents spread by I. ricinus in Sweden include Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia helvetica, the recently described Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Borrelia miyamotoi, tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), and Babesia spp. (Babesia microti, Babesia venatorum and Babesia divergens). Since these pathogens share the same vector, co-infections with more than one tick-borne pathogen may occur and thus complicate the diagnosis and clinical management of the patient due to possibly altered symptomatology. Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., TBEV and B. miyamotoi are well-known to cause infections of the central nervous system (CNS), whereas the abilities of other tick-borne pathogens to invade the CNS are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and clinical impact of tick-borne pathogens other than B. burgdorferi s.l. in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples of patients who were under investigation for Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) in a tick-endemic region of South-eastern Sweden. CSF and serum samples from 600 patients, recruited from the Regions of Östergötland County, Jönköping County and Kalmar County in South-eastern Sweden and investigated for LNB during the period of 2009-2013, were retrospectively collected for analysis. The samples were analysed by real-time PCR for the presence of nucleic acid from B. burgdorferi s.l., B. miyamotoi, A. phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp., N. mikurensis, TBEV and Babesia spp. Serological analyses were conducted in CSF and serum samples for all patients regarding B. burgdorferi s.l., and for the patients with CSF mononuclear pleocytosis, analyses of antibodies to B. miyamotoi, A. phagocytophilum, spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae, TBEV and B. microti in serum were performed. The medical charts of all the patients with CSF mononuclear pleocytosis and patients with positive PCR findings were reviewed. Of the 600 patients, 55 (9%) presented with CSF mononuclear pleocytosis, 13 (2%) of whom had Borrelia-specific antibodies in the CSF. One patient was PCR-positive for N. mikurensis, and another one was PCR-positive for Borrelia spp. in serum. No pathogens were detected by PCR in the CSF samples. Four patients had serum antibodies to B. miyamotoi, four patients to A. phagocytophilum, five patients to SFG rickettsiae, and six patients to TBEV. One patient, with antibodies to SFG rickettsiae, had both clinical and laboratory signs suggestive of a current infection. Nine patients had serum antibodies to more than one pathogen, although none of these was assessed as a current co-infection. We can conclude from this study that tick-borne co-infections are uncommon in patients who are being investigated for suspected LNB in South-eastern Sweden, an area endemic for borreliosis and TBE.
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Della-Giustina D, Duke C, Goldflam K. Underrecognized Tickborne Illnesses: Borrelia Miyamotoi and Powassan Virus. Wilderness Environ Med 2021; 32:240-246. [PMID: 33839017 DOI: 10.1016/j.wem.2021.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Over the past 2 decades, tickborne disease has been increasingly recognized as a threat to humans as a result of the growing geographic range of ticks. This review describes 2 tickborne diseases, Borrelia miyamotoi and Powassan virus, that likely have a significant impact on humans, yet are underdiagnosed compared to most other tickborne diseases. We performed a literature search from 2015 to 2020. Borrelia miyamotoi is a tickborne pathogen that infects and co-infects ticks along with other pathogens, including Borrelia burgdorferi. Because B miyamotoi infects the same Ixodes ticks as B burgdorferi, B miyamotoi may cover a similar geographic range. B miyamotoi infection may be underdiagnosed for 2 reasons. First, a presumptive treatment approach to Lyme disease may result in B miyamotoi infection treatment without identification of the actual cause. Second, the absence of readily available testing and diagnostic criteria makes it difficult to diagnose B miyamotoi infection. Powassan virus is a tickborne flavivirus similar to the dengue virus. Powassan virus disease appears to have an asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic presentation in most people but can cause devastating and fatal encephalitis. The Powassan virus may be transmitted in less than 15 min of tick feeding. Powassan virus disease is a difficult diagnosis because testing capabilities are limited and because there may be co-infection with other tickborne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Charles Duke
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Katja Goldflam
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, New Haven, CT
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20
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Ndiaye EHI, Diouf FS, Ndiaye M, Bassene H, Raoult D, Sokhna C, Parola P, Diatta G. Tick-borne relapsing fever Borreliosis, a major public health problem overlooked in Senegal. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009184. [PMID: 33886571 PMCID: PMC8096072 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is the most common vector-borne bacterial disease in humans in West Africa. It is frequently clinically confused with malaria. Our study aims to determine, on a micro-geographic scale, the conditions for the maintenance and spread of TBRF in the Niakhar district of Senegal. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We conducted clinical, entomological and animal reservoir investigations. Field surveys were carried out in order to investigate the presence of Ornithodoros sonrai vector ticks and to detect Borrelia spp. by qPCR using the 16S rRNA and glpQ genes, respectively. Micromammal trapping series were carried out inside homes and Borrelia infection was detected using brain tissue qPCR. Capillary blood samples from febrile patients were also tested for Borrelia using qPCR. More than 97% (40/41) of the villages surveyed were infested with O. sonrai ticks. The prevalence of Borrelia spp. infections in ticks was 13% (116/910), and over 73% (85/116) were positively confirmed as being Borrelia crocidurae. Borreliosis cases accounted for 12% (94/800) of episodes of fever and all age groups were infected, with children and young people between the ages of 8-14 and 22-28 being the most infected by the disease (16% and 18.4%). TBRF cases occurred in all seasons, with a peak in August. In two species of small rodents that were found to be infected (Arvicanthis niloticus, Mus musculus), the proportion of Borrelia infection was 17.5% (10/57), and the highest prevalence of infection (40.9%, 9/22) was observed in A. niloticus. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE Our study indicates that TBRF is an endemic disease in the Niakhar district, where children and young people are the most infected. Arvicanthis niloticus and O. sonrai ticks are massively present and appear to be the main epidemiological reservoirs causing its extensive spread to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- El Hadji Ibrahima Ndiaye
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, APHM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | | | - Mady Ndiaye
- Laboratoire d’Entomologie, Bactériologie, Rickettsiologie, Virologie, Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Hubert Bassene
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, APHM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France
- VITROME, Campus International IRD-UCAD Hann, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Didier Raoult
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, APHM, MEPHI, Marseille, France
| | - Cheikh Sokhna
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, APHM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France
- VITROME, Campus International IRD-UCAD Hann, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Philippe Parola
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, APHM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Georges Diatta
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, APHM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France
- VITROME, Campus International IRD-UCAD Hann, Dakar, Senegal
- * E-mail:
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21
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Kahlig P, Paris DH, Neumayr A. Louse-borne relapsing fever-A systematic review and analysis of the literature: Part 1-Epidemiology and diagnostic aspects. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0008564. [PMID: 33705384 PMCID: PMC7951878 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) is a classical epidemic disease, which in the past was associated with war, famine, poverty, forced migration, and crowding under poor hygienic conditions around the world. The disease's causative pathogen, the spirochete bacterium Borrelia recurrentis, is confined to humans and transmitted by a single vector, the human body louse Pediculus humanus. Since the disease has had its heyday before the days of modern medicine, many of its aspects have never been formally studied and to date, remain incompletely understood. In order to shed light on some of these aspects, we have systematically reviewed the accessible literature on LBRF, since the recognition of its mode of transmission in 1907, and summarized the existing data on epidemiology and diagnostic aspects of the disease. Publications were identified by using a predefined search strategy on electronic databases and a subsequent review of the reference lists of the obtained publications. All publications reporting patients with a confirmed diagnosis of LBRF published in English, French, German, and Spanish since 1907 were included. Data extraction followed a predefined protocol and included a grading system to judge the certainty of the diagnosis of reported cases. Historically, Ethiopia is considered a stronghold of LBRF. The recognition of LBRF among East African migrants (originating from Somalia, Eritrea, and Ethiopia) arriving to Europe in the course of the recent migration flow from this region suggests that this epidemiological focus ostensibly persists. Currently, there is neither evidence to support or refute active transmission foci of LBRF elsewhere on the African continent, in Latin America, or in Asia. Microscopy remains the most commonly used method to diagnose LBRF. Data are lacking on sensitivity and specificity of most diagnostic methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Kahlig
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Daniel H. Paris
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Neumayr
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia
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Abstract
Relapsing fever (RF) is caused by several species of Borrelia; all, except two species, are transmitted to humans by soft (argasid) ticks. The species B. recurrentis is transmitted from one human to another by the body louse, while B. miyamotoi is vectored by hard-bodied ixodid tick species. RF Borrelia have several pathogenic features that facilitate invasion and dissemination in the infected host. In this article we discuss the dynamics of vector acquisition and subsequent transmission of RF Borrelia to their vertebrate hosts. We also review taxonomic challenges for RF Borrelia as new species have been isolated throughout the globe. Moreover, aspects of pathogenesis including symptomology, neurotropism, erythrocyte and platelet adhesion are discussed. We expound on RF Borrelia evasion strategies for innate and adaptive immunity, focusing on the most fundamental pathogenetic attributes, multiphasic antigenic variation. Lastly, we review new and emerging species of RF Borrelia and discuss future directions for this global disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Job Lopez
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston TX, USA
| | - Joppe W Hovius
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam Medical centers, location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sven Bergström
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå Center for Microbial Research, Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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Brummitt SI, Kjemtrup AM, Harvey DJ, Petersen JM, Sexton C, Replogle A, Packham AE, Bloch EM, Barbour AG, Krause PJ, Green V, Smith WA. Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia miyamotoi seroprevalence in California blood donors. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0243950. [PMID: 33370341 PMCID: PMC7769429 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The western blacklegged tick, Ixodes pacificus, an important vector in the western United States of two zoonotic spirochetes: Borrelia burgdorferi (also called Borreliella burgdorferi), causing Lyme disease, and Borrelia miyamotoi, causing a relapsing fever-type illness. Human cases of Lyme disease are well-documented in California, with increased risk in the north coastal areas and western slopes of the Sierra Nevada range. Despite the established presence of B. miyamotoi in the human-biting I. pacificus tick in California, clinical cases with this spirochete have not been well studied. To assess exposure to B. burgdorferi and B. miyamotoi in California, and to address the hypothesis that B. miyamotoi exposure in humans is similar in geographic range to B. burgdorferi, 1,700 blood donor sera from California were tested for antibodies to both pathogens. Sampling was from high endemic and low endemic counties for Lyme disease in California. All sera were screened using the C6 ELISA. All C6 positive and equivocal samples and nine randomly chosen C6 negative samples were further analyzed for B. burgdorferi antibody using IgG western blot and a modified two ELISA test system and for B. miyamotoi antibody using the GlpQ ELISA and B. miyamotoi whole cell sonicate western blot. Of the 1,700 samples tested in series, eight tested positive for antibodies to B. burgdorferi (0.47%, Exact 95% CI: 0.20, 0.93) and two tested positive for antibodies to B. miyamotoi (0.12%, Exact 95% CI: 0.01, 0.42). There was no statistically significant difference in seroprevalence for either pathogen between high and low Lyme disease endemic counties. Our results confirm a low frequency of Lyme disease and an even lower frequency of B. miyamotoi exposure among adult blood donors in California; however, our findings reinforce public health messaging that there is risk of infection by these emerging diseases in the state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon I. Brummitt
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Anne M. Kjemtrup
- California Department of Public Health, Sacramento, California, United States of America
| | - Danielle J. Harvey
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Jeannine M. Petersen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Christopher Sexton
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Adam Replogle
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Andrea E. Packham
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Evan M. Bloch
- Department of Pathology and Transfusion Medicine, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Alan G. Barbour
- Department of Medicine and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Peter J. Krause
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, and Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Valerie Green
- Creative Testing Solutions, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Woutrina A. Smith
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
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24
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Glycerophosphodiester Phosphodiesterase Identified as Non-Reliable Serological Marker for Borrelia miyamotoi Disease. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8121846. [PMID: 33255178 PMCID: PMC7760085 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8121846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The relapsing fever group Borrelia miyamotoi is an emerging tick-borne pathogen. Diagnosis of infection is currently mainly based on serological methods detecting antibodies against B. miyamotoi glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase (GlpQ). Here, we scrutinized the reliability of GlpQ as a diagnostic marker and compared the seroprevalence in different study populations and by applying various immunoblotting methods. Antibodies were detected in the sera of 7/53 hunters and in 1/11 sera of Lyme neuroborreliosis patients. Furthermore, 17/74 sera of persons with high concentrations of anti-Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (α-Bbsl) antibodies reacted strongly with B. miyamotoi GlpQ in immunoblots. The B. miyamotoi GlpQ seroprevalence was 7/50 in α-Bbsl negative persons. In healthy blood donors from commercial suppliers and from the Austrian Red Cross, seroprevalences were 5/14 and 10/35, respectively. Strikingly, two B. miyamotoi PCR-positive cases from Austria had negative GlpQ serology, indicating poor sensitivity. Finally, when we analyzed sera of dogs, we found α-B. miyamotoi GlpQ antibody seroprevalence in tick-free dogs (n = 10) and in tick-exposed dogs (n = 19) with 2/10 and 8/19, respectively. Thus, our results indicate that GlpQ-based B. miyamotoi serology holds neither specificity nor sensitivity.
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Delaney SL, Murray LA, Aasen CE, Bennett CE, Brown E, Fallon BA. Borrelia miyamotoi Serology in a Clinical Population With Persistent Symptoms and Suspected Tick-Borne Illness. Front Med (Lausanne) 2020; 7:567350. [PMID: 33195313 PMCID: PMC7652925 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2020.567350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Eighty-two patients seeking consultation for long-term sequalae after suspected tick-borne illness were consecutively tested for Borrelia miyamotoi antibodies using a recombinant glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase (GlpQ) enzyme immunoassay. Twenty-one of the 82 patients (26%) tested positive on the GlpQ IgG ELISA. Nearly all of the patients (98%) had no prior B. miyamotoi testing, indicating that clinicians rarely test for this emerging tick-borne pathogen. Compared to patients who solely tested positive for Lyme disease antibodies, patients with B. miyamotoi antibodies presented with significantly more sleepiness and pain. A prospective study is needed to ascertain the relationship between the presence of B. miyamotoi antibodies and persistent symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon L Delaney
- Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States.,New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Lilly A Murray
- Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States.,New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Claire E Aasen
- Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Clair E Bennett
- Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States.,New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ellen Brown
- Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States.,New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Brian A Fallon
- Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States.,New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
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26
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Harris EK, Brandt KS, Van Gundy TJ, Goodrich I, Wormser GP, Armstrong BA, Gilmore RD. Characterization of a Borrelia miyamotoi membrane antigen (BmaA) for serodiagnosis of Borrelia miyamotoi disease. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101476. [PMID: 32723629 PMCID: PMC10956739 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi is a tick-borne pathogen that causes Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD), an emerging infectious disease of increasing public health significance. B. miyamotoi is transmitted by the same tick vector (Ixodes spp.) as B. burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), the causative agent of Lyme disease, therefore laboratory assays to differentiate BMD from Lyme disease are needed to avoid misdiagnoses and for disease confirmation. We previously performed a global immunoproteomic analysis of the murine host antibody response against B. miyamotoi infection to discover antigens that could serologically distinguish the two infections. An initial assessment identified a putative lipoprotein antigen, here termed BmaA, as a promising candidate to augment current research-based serological assays. In this study, we show that BmaA is an outer surface-associated protein by its susceptibility to protease digestion. Synthesis of BmaA in culture was independent of temperature at either 23 °C or 34 °C. The BmaA gene is present in two identical loci harbored on separate plasmids in North American strains LB-2001 and CT13-2396. bmaA-like sequences are present in other B. miyamotoi strains and relapsing fever borrelia as multicopy genes and as paralogous or orthologous gene families. IgM and IgG antibodies in pooled serum from BMD patients reacted with native BmaA fractionated by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis and identified by mass spectrometry. IgG against recombinant BmaA was detected in 4 of 5 BMD patient serum samples as compared with 1 of 23 serum samples collected from patients with various stages of Lyme disease. Human anti-B. turicatae serum did not seroreact with recombinant BmaA suggesting a role as a species-specific diagnostic antigen. These results demonstrated that BmaA elicits a human host antibody response during B. miyamotoi infection but not in a tested group of B. burgdorferi-infected Lyme disease patients, thereby providing a potentially useful addition for developing BMD serodiagnostic tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma K Harris
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Kevin S Brandt
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Taylor J Van Gundy
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Irina Goodrich
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Gary P Wormser
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA
| | - Brittany A Armstrong
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Robert D Gilmore
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
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Houmansadr F, Soleimani M, Naddaf SR. Development of A Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assay for Detection of Relapsing Fever Borreliae. J Arthropod Borne Dis 2020; 14:47-55. [PMID: 32766348 PMCID: PMC7382693 DOI: 10.18502/jad.v14i1.2703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to develop a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the rapid detection of tick-borne relapsing fever in resource-limited areas. Methods A set of six primers were designed based on the conserved regions of the Glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase (glpQ) gene of Borrelia species. For sensitivity assay, serial dilutions of a recombinant plasmid containing a 219bp sequence of the glpQ were prepared and used as the template DNA. The LAMP reactions containing the six primers and the reagents required for amplification were incubated at 60-65 °C for 60min in a Loopamp real-time turbidimeter. For the specificity test, DNA from 14 other bacteria were included in the assays, and double-distilled water was used as the negative control. Also, DNA from dried blood spots (DBSs) of spirochetemic mice, and blood samples from relapsing fever-suspected patients were examined by the LAMP along a Borrelia-specific nested PCR that targets the rrs-rrl-IGS region. Results The LAMP detected as low as 90glpQ copies in reactions. The primers reacted with DNA from DBS of spirochetemic mice showing spirochete concentrations of ≤ one per a 1000X microscopic field. In clinical samples, the LAMP assay showed a higher sensitivity compared to nested-PCR. The LAMP specificity was 100%, as the primers did not react with other bacteria DNA. Conclusion The high sensitivity and specificity of the test, along with the simplicity of the DNA extraction procedure, make the LAMP a reliable and adaptable tool for the diagnosis of tick-borne relapsing fever in rural endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faezeh Houmansadr
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Soleimani
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Tasnim Biotechnology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Cutler S, Vayssier-Taussat M, Estrada-Peña A, Potkonjak A, Mihalca AD, Zeller H. A new Borrelia on the block: Borrelia miyamotoi - a human health risk? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 24. [PMID: 31064634 PMCID: PMC6505184 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2019.24.18.1800170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Background Borrelia miyamotoi clusters phylogenetically among relapsing fever borreliae, but is transmitted by hard ticks. Recent recognition as a human pathogen has intensified research into its ecology and pathogenic potential. Aims We aimed to provide a timely critical integrative evaluation of our knowledge on B. miyamotoi, to assess its public health relevance and guide future research. Methods This narrative review used peer-reviewed literature in English from January 1994 to December 2018. Results Borrelia miyamotoi occurs in the world’s northern hemisphere where it co-circulates with B. burgdorferi sensu lato, which causes Lyme disease. The two borreliae have overlapping vertebrate and tick hosts. While ticks serve as vectors for both species, they are also reservoirs for B. miyamotoi. Three B. miyamotoi genotypes are described, but further diversity is being recognised. The lack of sufficient cultivable isolates and vertebrate models compromise investigation of human infection and its consequences. Our understanding mainly originates from limited case series. In these, human infections mostly present as influenza-like illness, with relapsing fever in sporadic cases and neurological disease reported in immunocompromised patients. Unspecific clinical presentation, also occasionally resulting from Lyme- or other co-infections, complicates diagnosis, likely contributing to under-reporting. Diagnostics mainly employ PCR and serology. Borrelia miyamotoi infections are treated with antimicrobials according to regimes used for Lyme disease. Conclusions With co-infection of tick-borne pathogens being commonplace, diagnostic improvements remain important. Developing in vivo models might allow more insight into human pathogenesis. Continued ecological and human case studies are key to better epidemiological understanding, guiding intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Cutler
- School of Health, Sport & Bioscience, University of East London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Agustín Estrada-Peña
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Aleksandar Potkonjak
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Andrei Daniel Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Hervé Zeller
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Solna, Sweden
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29
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Talagrand-Reboul E, Raffetin A, Zachary P, Jaulhac B, Eldin C. Immunoserological Diagnosis of Human Borrelioses: Current Knowledge and Perspectives. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:241. [PMID: 32509603 PMCID: PMC7248299 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Spirochetes of the genus Borrelia are divided into relapsing fever borreliae and Lyme disease borreliae. Immunoserological assays have been poorly developed for relapsing fever borreliae, where direct detection methods are more adapted to the pathophysiology of these infections presenting with massive bacteraemia. However, emergence of the novel agent of relapsing fever B. miyamotoi has renewed interest in serology in this context. In Lyme disease, because direct detection methods show low sensitivity, serology plays a central role in the diagnostic strategy. This diagnostic strategy is based on a two-tier methodology involving a first test (ELISA) with high sensitivity and acceptable specificity and a second, more specific test (western blot) for diagnostic confirmation. The most frequent limitations and pitfalls of serology are cross reactions, false IgM positivity, a seronegative window period at the early time of the infection, and serologic scars with a suspicion of reinfection. International guidelines have thus been proposed to avoid these difficulties with interpretation. Finally, unconventional diagnostic tests have been developed recently in the context of a highly publicized disease, with widely varying results, some of which have no available evidence-based data. New two-tier testing strategies using two ELISA tests (C6 and WCS for example) to replace immunoblot are currently proposed by some authors and guidelines, and promising new tests such as CXCL-13 in CSF are promising tools for the improvement of the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Talagrand-Reboul
- UR 7290 Virulence Bactérienne Précoce, Université de Strasbourg, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Strasbourg, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle, Groupe Borréliose de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.,National Reference Center for Borrelia, CHRU Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Alice Raffetin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Centre Hospitalier Lucie-et-Raymond-Aubrac, Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, France
| | - Pierre Zachary
- UR 7290 Virulence Bactérienne Précoce, Université de Strasbourg, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Strasbourg, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle, Groupe Borréliose de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.,National Reference Center for Borrelia, CHRU Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Benoît Jaulhac
- UR 7290 Virulence Bactérienne Précoce, Université de Strasbourg, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Strasbourg, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle, Groupe Borréliose de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.,National Reference Center for Borrelia, CHRU Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Carole Eldin
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France.,IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
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30
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Schwan TG, Raffel SJ, Battisti JM. Transgenic functional complementation with a transmission -associated protein restores spirochete infectivity by tick bite. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101377. [PMID: 32005628 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The relapsing fever spirochete Borrelia hermsii and the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto each produces an abundant, orthologous, outer membrane protein, Vtp and OspC, respectively, when transmitted by tick bite. Gene inactivation studies have shown that both proteins are essential for spirochete infectivity when transmitted by their respective tick vectors. Therefore, we transformed a vtp-minus mutant of B. hermsii with ospC from B. burgdorferi and examined the behavior of this transgenic spirochete in its soft tick vector Ornithodoros hermsi. IFA staining indicated up to 97.8 % of the transgenic B. hermsii upregulated OspC in the ticks' salivary glands compared to no more than 12.8 % in the midgut, similar to our previous findings with wild-type B. hermsii producing Vtp. Transformation with ospC also restored B. hermsii infectivity to mice when fed upon by infected ticks. Previous sequence analysis of Vtp for 79 isolates and DNA samples of B. hermsii in our laboratory showed this protein is highly polymorphic with 9 divergent amino acid types, yet strikingly the signal peptide is identical among all samples and the same for all OspC signal peptides for B. burgdorferi and related species examined to date. Searches in multiple genome sequences for other species of relapsing fever spirochetes failed to find the same signal peptide sequence to help identify potential transmission-associated proteins. However, some candidate signal peptides with highly similar sequences were found and worthy of future efforts with other species. While OspC of B. burgdorferi restored infectivity to a Vtp-minus mutant of B. hermsii, the functions of these proteins are not known. Our results should stimulate investigators to search for orthologous transmission-associated proteins in other tick-borne spirochetes to better understand how this group of pathogens has coevolved with diverse tick vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom G Schwan
- Laboratory of Zoonotic Pathogens, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 South 4th Street, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA.
| | - Sandra J Raffel
- Laboratory of Zoonotic Pathogens, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 South 4th Street, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - James M Battisti
- Laboratory of Zoonotic Pathogens, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 South 4th Street, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
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Immunoproteomic analysis of Borrelia miyamotoi for the identification of serodiagnostic antigens. Sci Rep 2019; 9:16808. [PMID: 31727932 PMCID: PMC6856195 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53248-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The tick-borne spirochete, Borrelia miyamotoi, is an emerging pathogen of public health significance. Current B. miyamotoi serodiagnostic testing depends on reactivity against GlpQ which is not highly sensitive on acute phase serum samples. Additionally, anti-B. miyamotoi antibodies can cross-react with C6 antigen testing for B. burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, underscoring the need for improved serological assays that produce accurate diagnostic results. We performed an immunoproteomics analysis of B. miyamotoi proteins to identify novel serodiagnostic antigens. Sera from mice infected with B. miyamotoi by subcutaneous inoculation or tick bite were collected for immunoblotting against B. miyamotoi membrane-associated proteins separated by 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE). In total, 88 proteins in 40 2DE immunoreactive spots were identified via mass spectrometry. Multiple variable large proteins (Vlps) and a putative lipoprotein were among those identified and analyzed. Reactivity of anti-B. miyamotoi sera against recombinant Vlps and the putative lipoprotein confirmed their immunogenicity. Mouse anti-B. burgdorferi serum was cross-reactive to all recombinant Vlps, but not against the putative lipoprotein by IgG. Furthermore, antibodies against the recombinant putative lipoprotein were present in serum from a B. miyamotoi-infected human patient, but not a Lyme disease patient. Results presented here provide a comprehensive profile of B. miyamotoi antigens that induce the host immune response and identify a putative lipoprotein as a potentially specific antigen for B. miyamotoi serodetection.
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Line Immunoblot Assay for Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever and Findings in Patient Sera from Australia, Ukraine and the USA. Healthcare (Basel) 2019; 7:healthcare7040121. [PMID: 31640151 PMCID: PMC6955669 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare7040121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is caused by spirochete bacteria of the genus Borrelia termed relapsing fever Borreliae (RFB). TBRF shares symptoms with Lyme disease (LD) caused by related Lyme disease Borreliae (LDB). TBRF and LD are transmitted by ticks and occur in overlapping localities worldwide. Serological detection of antibodies used for laboratory confirmation of LD is not established for TBRF. A line immunoblot assay using recombinant proteins from different RFB species, termed TBRF IB, was developed and its diagnostic utility investigated. The TBRF IBs were able to differentiate between antibodies to RFB and LDB and had estimated sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 70.5%, 99.5%, 97.3%, and 93.4%, respectively, based on results with reference sera from patients known to be positive and negative for TBRF. The use of TBRF IBs and analogous immunoblots for LD to test sera of patients from Australia, Ukraine, and the USA with LD symptoms revealed infection with TBRF alone, LD alone, and both TBRF and LD. Diagnosis by clinical criteria alone can, therefore, underestimate the incidence of TBRF. TBRF IBs will be useful for laboratory confirmation of TBRF and understanding its epidemiology worldwide.
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Tokarz R, Tagliafierro T, Caciula A, Mishra N, Thakkar R, Chauhan LV, Sameroff S, Delaney S, Wormser GP, Marques A, Lipkin WI. Identification of immunoreactive linear epitopes of Borrelia miyamotoi. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 11:101314. [PMID: 31636001 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi is an emerging tick-borne spirochete transmitted by ixodid ticks. Current serologic assays for B. miyamotoi are impacted by genetic similarities to other Borrelia and limited understanding of optimal antigenic targets. In this study, we employed the TBD-Serochip, a peptide array platform, to identify new linear targets for serologic detection of B. miyamotoi. We examined a wide range of suspected B. miyamotoi antigens and identified 352 IgM and 91 IgG reactive peptides, with the majority mapping to variable membrane proteins. These included peptides within conserved fragments of variable membrane proteins that may have greater potential for differential diagnosis. We also identified reactive regions on FlaB, and demonstrate crossreactivity of B. burgdorferi s.l. C6 with a B. miyamotoi C6-like peptide. The panel of linear peptides identified in this study can be used to enhance serodiagnosis of B. miyamotoi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafal Tokarz
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States.
| | - Teresa Tagliafierro
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Adrian Caciula
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Nischay Mishra
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Riddhi Thakkar
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Lokendra V Chauhan
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Stephen Sameroff
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Shannon Delaney
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Gary P Wormser
- Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Adriana Marques
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - W Ian Lipkin
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
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Antibodies to Borrelia turicatae in Experimentally Infected Dogs Cross-React with Borrelia burgdorferi Serologic Assays. J Clin Microbiol 2019; 57:JCM.00628-19. [PMID: 31270181 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00628-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is caused by several Borrelia spp. (including Borrelia turicatae), which are primarily transmitted by Ornithodoros ticks. Relapsing fever group species are found worldwide, except for Antarctica. Approximately 500 human cases were reported between 1990 and 2011 in the United States (likely an underestimate), while cases in domestic and wild dogs were reported from Florida, Texas, and Washington. TBRF spirochetes are related to Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme borreliosis. Dogs are routinely screened for B. burgdorferi, but it is unknown if infection with TBRF agents produces antibodies cross-reactive with B. burgdorferi assays. These data are critical for accurate surveillance of TBRF and Lyme borreliosis in dogs. In this study, B. burgdorferi-negative dogs were inoculated with B. turicatae, and seroconversion was confirmed by the rBipA (recombinant Borrelia immunogenic protein A) Western blot. Seropositive samples were tested with commercial and veterinary diagnostic laboratory B. burgdorferi-based tests. Borrelia turicatae-seroreactive samples cross-reacted with a whole-cell indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test and two multiantigen tests, but not with single-antigen tests using C6. Cross-reactivity with TBRF can confound epidemiology and surveillance efforts and confuse recommendations made by veterinarians for prevention and control. These findings demonstrate the need to critically evaluate results from B. burgdorferi diagnostic tests in the context of the assay type and the animal's geographical location and history of travel, as well as highlighting the need for commercially available specific diagnostic tests for TBRF spirochetes.
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Koetsveld J, Platonov AE, Kuleshov K, Wagemakers A, Hoornstra D, Ang W, Szekeres S, van Duijvendijk GLA, Fikrig E, Embers ME, Sprong H, Hovius JW. Borrelia miyamotoi infection leads to cross-reactive antibodies to the C6 peptide in mice and men. Clin Microbiol Infect 2019; 26:513.e1-513.e6. [PMID: 31404672 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2019.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Borrelia miyamotoi is a relapsing fever Borrelia, transmitted by hard (Ixodes) ticks, which are also the main vector for Borrelia burgdorferi. A widely used test for serodiagnosis of Lyme borreliosis is an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) based on the C6 peptide of the B. burgdorferi sl VlsE protein. We set out to study C6 reactivity upon infection with B. miyamotoi in a large well-characterized set of B. miyamotoi disease (BMD) patient sera and in experimental murine infection. METHODS We performed in silico analyses, comparing the C6-peptide to immunodominant B. miyamotoi variable large proteins (Vlps). Next, we determined C6 reactivity in sera from mice infected with B. miyamotoi and in a unique longitudinal set of 191 sera from 46 BMD patients. RESULTS In silico analyses revealed similarity of the C6 peptide to domains within B. miyamotoi Vlps. Cross-reactivity against the C6 peptide was confirmed in 21 out of 24 mice experimentally infected with B. miyamotoi. Moreover, 35 out of 46 BMD patients had a C6 EIA Lyme index higher than 1.1 (positive). Interestingly, 27 out of 37 patients with a C6 EIA Lyme index higher than 0.9 (equivocal) were negative when tested for specific B. burgdorferi sl antibodies using a commercially available immunoblot. CONCLUSIONS We show that infection with B. miyamotoi leads to cross-reactive antibodies to the C6 peptide. Since BMD and Lyme borreliosis are found in the same geographical locations, caution should be used when relying solely on C6 reactivity testing. We propose that a positive C6 EIA with negative immunoblot, especially in patients with fever several weeks after a tick bite, warrants further testing for B. miyamotoi.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Koetsveld
- AMC Amsterdam, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - A E Platonov
- Central Research Scientific Institute of Epidemiology, Laboratory for Zoonoses, Moscow, Russia
| | - K Kuleshov
- Central Research Scientific Institute of Epidemiology, Laboratory for Zoonoses, Moscow, Russia
| | - A Wagemakers
- AMC Amsterdam, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - D Hoornstra
- AMC Amsterdam, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - W Ang
- VU University Medical Centre, Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - S Szekeres
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Laboratory for Infectious Diseases and Perinatal Screening, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - G L A van Duijvendijk
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Laboratory for Infectious Diseases and Perinatal Screening, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - E Fikrig
- Yale University, Internal Medicine, New Haven, USA
| | - M E Embers
- Tulane University, Division of Bacteriology and Parasitology, Covington, USA
| | - H Sprong
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Laboratory for Infectious Diseases and Perinatal Screening, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - J W Hovius
- AMC Amsterdam, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Vázquez-Guerrero E, Adan-Bante NP, Mercado-Uribe MC, Hernández-Rodríguez C, Villa-Tanaca L, Lopez JE, Ibarra JA. Case report: A retrospective serological analysis indicating human exposure to tick-borne relapsing fever spirochetes in Sonora, Mexico. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007215. [PMID: 30973877 PMCID: PMC6459496 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Edwin Vázquez-Guerrero
- Laboratorio de Genética Microbiana, Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Norma P. Adan-Bante
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Zoonosis y Enfermedades Tropicales, Unidad Regional Sur, Universidad de Sonora, Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Mónica C. Mercado-Uribe
- Departamento de Infectología Pediátrica del Hospital Civil de Guadalajara “Fray Antonio Alcalde,” Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - César Hernández-Rodríguez
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular de Procariotes y Levaduras, Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Lourdes Villa-Tanaca
- Laboratorio de Genética Microbiana, Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular de Procariotes y Levaduras, Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Job E. Lopez
- Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - J. Antonio Ibarra
- Laboratorio de Genética Microbiana, Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
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Immunological Responses to the Relapsing Fever Spirochete Borrelia turicatae in Infected Rhesus Macaques: Implications for Pathogenesis and Diagnosis. Infect Immun 2019; 87:IAI.00900-18. [PMID: 30642902 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00900-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The global public health impact of relapsing fever (RF) spirochetosis is significant, since the pathogens exist on five of seven continents. The hallmark sign of infection is episodic fever and the greatest threat is to the unborn. With the goal of better understanding the specificity of B-cell responses and the role of immune responses in pathogenicity, we infected rhesus macaques with Borrelia turicatae (a new world RF spirochete species) by tick bite and monitored the immune responses generated in response to the pathogen. Specifically, we evaluated inflammatory mediator induction by the pathogen, host antibody responses to specific antigens, and peripheral lymphocyte population dynamics. Our results indicate that B. turicatae elicits from peripheral blood cells key inflammatory response mediators (interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor alpha), which are associated with preterm abortion. Moreover, a global decline in peripheral B-cell populations was observed in all animals at 14 days postinfection. Serological responses were also evaluated to assess the antigenicity of three surface proteins: BipA, BrpA, and Bta112. Interestingly, a distinction was observed between antibodies generated in nonhuman primates and mice. Our results provide support for the nonhuman primate model not only in studies of prenatal pathogenesis but also for diagnostic and vaccine antigen identification and testing.
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Osborne CJ, Crosbie PR, Van Laar TA. Borrelia parkeri in Ornithodoros parkeri (Ixodida: Argasidae) Collected Using Compact Dry Ice Traps in Madera County, California. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 56:579-583. [PMID: 30517684 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjy213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is a potentially serious vector-borne disease endemic to the western United States. Vector surveillance is compromised by the nidicolous life history of the three Ornithodoros species that transmit TBRF to people in this region. Large-scale stationary trapping methods were developed to survey a wide geographical range of Ornithodoros spp. which are known to vector relapsing fever Borrelia spp. in California. Ninety-six Ornithodoros parkeri were collected from four locations in the foothills of Fresno and Madera Counties. Two of these O. parkeri nymphs were PCR positive for Borrelia parkeri, and their collection at a popular recreation site increases the public health concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron J Osborne
- Department of Biology, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA
| | - Paul R Crosbie
- Department of Biology, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA
| | - Tricia A Van Laar
- Department of Biology, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA
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Blood Smears Have Poor Sensitivity for Confirming Borrelia miyamotoi Disease. J Clin Microbiol 2019; 57:JCM.01468-18. [PMID: 30626663 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01468-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD) is a newly recognized borreliosis that is cotransmitted by ticks wherever Lyme disease is zoonotic. Unlike Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the agent of Lyme disease, B. miyamotoi is closely related to relapsing fever spirochetes, such as Borrelia hermsi i Some authors have suggested that the disease caused by B. miyamotoi should be considered a hard-tick-transmitted relapsing fever, and thus, the main mode of confirming a diagnosis for that infection, microscopy to analyze a blood smear, may have clinical utility. To determine whether blood smears may detect B. miyamotoi in the blood of acute BMD patients, we made standard malariological thick smears from anticoagulated blood samples that were previously determined to contain this agent (by PCR) and analyzed them for morphological evidence of spirochetes. Spirochetes were not detected in the blood smears from 20 PCR positive patient blood samples after examination of 100 thick smear fields and only 2 of 20 demonstrated spirochetes when the examination was extended to 300 thick smear fields. Inoculation of severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice yielded isolates from 5 of 5 samples, but 0 of 3 BALB/c mice became infected. We conclude that in strong contrast to the diagnosis of typical relapsing fever, microscopy of blood smears is not sensitive enough for confirming a diagnosis of BMD but that SCID mouse inoculation could be a useful complement to PCR.
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Modarelli JJ, Piccione J, Ferro PJ, Esteve-Gasent MD. Novel real-time PCR assays for genomic group identification of tick-borne relapsing fever species Borrelia hermsii. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2019; 93:24-29. [DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2018.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/05/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Abstract
Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) caused by the bacteria Borrelia, is poorly documented in veterinary medicine. Given the widespread presence of the soft tick vectors - Ornithodoros and the recently discovered hard tick vectors, as well as their close association with animal hosts, it is highly likely that infection occurs, but is rarely reported to be of veterinary importance. Sporadic reports of canine infection, some being fatal through to probable cause of abortion in horses have been published. Some of these pathogens exist in regions where there are limited diagnostic facilities, hence, they are likely to be missed and their impact on productivity may be unquantified. Here we review available literatures on cases of TBRF in domestic and wild animals in order to show their potential veterinary medical impact. Future efforts using field and laboratory surveys are needed to determine pathogenesis, vector competence and distribution in animals, their impact on animal health and productivity as well as to prevent further spill to the human population, where it is already a public health problem in some parts of the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nusirat Elelu
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive MedicineUniversity of IlorinIlorinKwara StateNigeria
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Gofton AW, Margos G, Fingerle V, Hepner S, Loh SM, Ryan U, Irwin P, Oskam CL. Genome-wide analysis of Borrelia turcica and 'Candidatus Borrelia tachyglossi' shows relapsing fever-like genomes with unique genomic links to Lyme disease Borrelia. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2018; 66:72-81. [PMID: 30240834 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Revised: 09/16/2018] [Accepted: 09/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Borrelia are tick-borne bacteria that in humans are the aetiological agents of Lyme disease and relapsing fever. Here we present the first genomes of B. turcica and B. tachyglossi, members of a recently described and rapidly expanding Borrelia clade associated with reptile (B. turcica) or echidna (B. tachyglossi) hosts, transmitted by hard ticks, and of unknown pathogenicity. Borrelia tachyglossi and B. turcica genomes are similar to those of relapsing fever Borrelia species, containing a linear ~ 900 kb chromosome, a single long (> 70 kb) linear plasmid, and numerous short (< 40 kb) linear and circular plasmids, as well as a suite of housekeeping and macronutrient biosynthesis genes which are not found in Lyme disease Borrelia. Additionally, both B. tachyglossi and B. turcica contain paralogous vsp and vlp proteins homologous to those used in the multiphasic antigen-switching system used by relapsing fever Borrelia to evade vertebrate immune responses, although their number was greatly reduced compared to human-infectious species. However, B. tachyglossi and B. turcica chromosomes also contain numerous genes orthologous to Lyme disease Borrelia-specific genes, demonstrating a unique evolutionary, and potentially phenotypic link between these groups. Borrelia tachyglossi and B. turcica genomes also have unique genetic features, including degraded and deleted tRNA modification genes, and an expanded range of macronutrient salvage and biosynthesis genes compared to relapsing fever and Lyme disease Borrelia. These genomes and genomic comparisons provide an insight into the biology and evolutionary origin of these Borrelia, and provide a valuable resource for future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander W Gofton
- The Vector and Water-Borne Pathogen Research Group, The School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia; Present address: Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, Black Mountain, Canberra 2601, Australia.
| | - Gabriele Margos
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, Oberschleissheim, 85764, Germany
| | - Volker Fingerle
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, Oberschleissheim, 85764, Germany
| | - Sabrina Hepner
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, Oberschleissheim, 85764, Germany
| | - Siew-May Loh
- The Vector and Water-Borne Pathogen Research Group, The School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia
| | - Una Ryan
- The Vector and Water-Borne Pathogen Research Group, The School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia
| | - Peter Irwin
- The Vector and Water-Borne Pathogen Research Group, The School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia
| | - Charlotte L Oskam
- The Vector and Water-Borne Pathogen Research Group, The School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia
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Sato K, Sakakibara K, Masuzawa T, Ohnishi M, Kawabata H. Case control study: Serological evidence that Borrelia miyamotoi disease occurs nationwide in Japan. J Infect Chemother 2018; 24:828-833. [PMID: 30057339 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiac.2018.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Since 2011, Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD) has been reported in five countries in the northern hemisphere. The causative agent of BMD is transmitted by Ixodes ticks, which are also vectors of Lyme disease borreliae. In this study, we examined 459 cases of clinically suspected Lyme disease (LD group), and found twelve cases that were seropositive for the glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase (GlpQ) antigen derived from B. miyamotoi. The retrospective surveillance revealed that the seroprevalence of anti-GlpQ in the LD group was significantly higher than in a healthy cohort. Seropositive cases were observed from spring through autumn when ticks are active, and the cases were geographically widespread, being found in Hokkaido-Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kinki, and Kyushu-Okinawa regions. Seropositive cases for GlpQ were most frequent in the Chubu region (6.3%) where B. miyamotoi has been found in Ixodes ticks. Out of the twelve cases that were found in the LD group, three cases exhibited concomitant seropositivity to Lyme disease borreliae by western blot assay. This is the first report of serological surveillance for BMD in Japan, and we conclude that BMD occurs nationwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kozue Sato
- Department of Bacteriology-I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keiko Sakakibara
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba Institute of Science, Choshi, Chiba, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Masuzawa
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba Institute of Science, Choshi, Chiba, Japan
| | - Makoto Ohnishi
- Department of Bacteriology-I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroki Kawabata
- Department of Bacteriology-I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
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Koetsveld J, Kolyasnikova NM, Wagemakers A, Stukolova OA, Hoornstra D, Sarksyan DS, Toporkova MG, Henningsson AJ, Hvidsten D, Ang W, Dessau R, Platonov AE, Hovius JW. Serodiagnosis of Borrelia miyamotoi disease by measuring antibodies against GlpQ and variable major proteins. Clin Microbiol Infect 2018; 24:1338.e1-1338.e7. [PMID: 29550499 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2018.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Revised: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD) is an emerging tick-borne disease in the Northern hemisphere. Serodiagnosis by measuring antibodies against glycerophosphodiester-phosphodiesterase (GlpQ) has been performed experimentally but has not been extensively clinically validated. Because we had previously shown the differential expression of antigenic variable major proteins (Vmps) in B. miyamotoi, our aim was to study antibody responses against GlpQ and Vmps in PCR-proven BMD patients and controls. METHODS We assessed seroreactivity against GlpQ and four Vmps in a well-described, longitudinal cohort of sera from BMD patients (n=182), healthy blood donors (n=136) and controls (n=68). All samples were tested by ELISA and positive sera were tested by western blot, and antibody dynamics and diagnostic value were assessed. RESULTS IgM antibodies against GlpQ and Vmps peaked between 11 and 20 days, and IgG between 21 and 50 days, after disease onset. Various combinations of GlpQ and Vmps increased sensitivity and/or specificity compared to single antigens. Notably, the GlpQ or variable large protein (Vlp)-15/16 combination yielded a sensitivity of 94.7% (95% CI: 75.4-99.7) 11-20 days after disease onset and a specificity of 96.6% (92.7-98.4) for IgM. A specificity of 100% (97.8-100) for IgM, and 98.3% for IgG (95.2-100), was found when positivity was defined as reactivity to GlpQ and any Vmp, with maximum sensitivities of 79% (56.7-91.5) for IgM and 86.7% (62.1-97.6) for IgG. CONCLUSIONS We clearly demonstrate here the diagnostic potential of these seromarkers. Our findings will facilitate future epidemiological and clinical studies on BMD and lead to the development of a serologic test to be used in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Koetsveld
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | | | - A Wagemakers
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - O A Stukolova
- Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - D Hoornstra
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - D S Sarksyan
- Izhevsk State Medical Academy, Izhevsk, Udmurt Republic, Russia
| | - M G Toporkova
- Medical Association "Novaya Bolnitsa", Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - A J Henningsson
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, County Hospital Ryhov, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - D Hvidsten
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nordland Hospital, Bodø, Norway
| | - W Ang
- Dept of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R Dessau
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Slagelse Hospital, Slagelse, Denmark
| | - A E Platonov
- Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - J W Hovius
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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45
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Muñoz-Leal S, Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Costa FB, Marcili A, Mesquita ETKC, Marques EP, Labruna MB. Isolation and molecular characterization of a relapsing fever Borrelia recovered from Ornithodoros rudis in Brazil. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:864-871. [PMID: 29571703 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2017] [Revised: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In South America, early reports from more than 50 years ago incriminated Ornithodoros rudis as vector of Borrelia venezuelensis, an agent of tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF). Herein we report the rediscovery of O. rudis by means of morphological, biological and molecular analyses, which also comprise the first report of this tick species in Brazil. Phylogenetic analysis using partial fragments of mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene suggested that O. rudis forms a monophyletic group with Ornithodoros erraticus. By using laboratory rodents as hosts, we isolated a relapsing fever Borrelia from an infected O. rudis female. Phylogenetic analysis inferred from the rrs, flaB, and glpQ genes of Borrelia spp. placed the spirochete harbored by O. rudis closely related to Borrelia turicatae. Until further genetic evidence is not obtained we are referring to this O. rudis spirochete as B. venezuelensis. This is the first in vitro isolation of a TBRF Borrelia from South America. The presence of O. rudis in Brazil should not be overlooked, since this tick has been historically implicated in human cases of TBRF in Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela. This study provides new reports of O. rudis and B. venezuelensis after decades of scientific silence on these agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil.
| | - Álvaro A Faccini-Martínez
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Doenças Infecciosas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil; Comité de Medicina Tropical, Zoonosis y Medicina del Viajero, Asociación Colombiana de Infectología, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Francisco B Costa
- Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão (UEMA), Cidade Universitária Paulo VI, s/n, São Luís/MA, 65055-970, São Luís, MA, Brazil
| | - Arlei Marcili
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil; Mestrado em medicina e bem estar animal, Universidade Santo Amaro, Av. Prof. Eneas de Siqueira Neto, 340, São Paulo, 04529-300, Brazil
| | - Eric T K C Mesquita
- Agência Estadual de Defesa Agropecuária do Maranhão, São Luís, Maranhão, MA, Brazil
| | - Edwaldo P Marques
- Agência Estadual de Defesa Agropecuária do Maranhão, São Luís, Maranhão, MA, Brazil
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
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46
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Sprong H, Azagi T, Hoornstra D, Nijhof AM, Knorr S, Baarsma ME, Hovius JW. Control of Lyme borreliosis and other Ixodes ricinus-borne diseases. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:145. [PMID: 29510749 PMCID: PMC5840726 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2744-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis (LB) and other Ixodes ricinus-borne diseases (TBDs) are diseases that emerge from interactions of humans and domestic animals with infected ticks in nature. Nature, environmental and health policies at (inter)national and local levels affect the risk, disease burden and costs of TBDs. Knowledge on ticks, their pathogens and the diseases they cause have been increasing, and resulted in the discovery of a diversity of control options, which often are not highly effective on their own. Control strategies involving concerted actions from human and animal health sectors as well as from nature managers have not been formulated, let alone implemented. Control of TBDs asks for a “health in all policies” approach, both at the (inter)national level, but also at local levels. For example, wildlife protection and creating urban green spaces are important for animal and human well-being, but may increase the risk of TBDs. In contrast, culling or fencing out deer decreases the risk for TBDs under specific conditions, but may have adverse effects on biodiversity or may be societally unacceptable. Therefore, in the end, nature and health workers together must carry out tailor-made control options for the control of TBDs for humans and animals, with minimal effects on the environment. In that regard, multidisciplinary approaches in environmental, but also medical settings are needed. To facilitate this, communication and collaboration between experts from different fields, which may include patient representatives, should be promoted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hein Sprong
- Centre for Zoonoses & Environmental Microbiology, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands. .,Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Tal Azagi
- Centre for Zoonoses & Environmental Microbiology, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Dieuwertje Hoornstra
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ard M Nijhof
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sarah Knorr
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - M Ewoud Baarsma
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Joppe W Hovius
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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47
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Tokarz R, Mishra N, Tagliafierro T, Sameroff S, Caciula A, Chauhan L, Patel J, Sullivan E, Gucwa A, Fallon B, Golightly M, Molins C, Schriefer M, Marques A, Briese T, Lipkin WI. A multiplex serologic platform for diagnosis of tick-borne diseases. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3158. [PMID: 29453420 PMCID: PMC5816631 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21349-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases are the most common vector-borne diseases in the United States, with serology being the primary method of diagnosis. We developed the first multiplex, array-based assay for serodiagnosis of tick-borne diseases called the TBD-Serochip. The TBD-Serochip was designed to discriminate antibody responses to 8 major tick-borne pathogens present in the United States, including Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti, Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Rickettsia rickettsii, Heartland virus and Powassan virus. Each assay contains approximately 170,000 12-mer linear peptides that tile along the protein sequence of the major antigens from each agent with 11 amino acid overlap. This permits accurate identification of a wide range of specific immunodominant IgG and IgM epitopes that can then be used to enhance diagnostic accuracy and integrate differential diagnosis into a single assay. To test the performance of the TBD-Serochip, we examined sera from patients with confirmed Lyme disease, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and Powassan virus disease. We identified a wide range of specific discriminatory epitopes that facilitated accurate diagnosis of each disease. We also identified previously undiagnosed infections. Our results indicate that the TBD-Serochip is a promising tool for a differential diagnosis not available with currently employed serologic assays for TBDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafal Tokarz
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Nischay Mishra
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Teresa Tagliafierro
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephen Sameroff
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adrian Caciula
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lokendrasingh Chauhan
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jigar Patel
- Roche Sequencing Solutions, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Azad Gucwa
- Department of Biology, Farmingdale State College, Farmingdale, NY, USA
| | - Brian Fallon
- Lyme and Tick-borne Diseases Research Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marc Golightly
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Claudia Molins
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Martin Schriefer
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Adriana Marques
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Thomas Briese
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - W Ian Lipkin
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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48
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Human Borrelia miyamotoi infection in California: Serodiagnosis is complicated by multiple endemic Borrelia species. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0191725. [PMID: 29420552 PMCID: PMC5805228 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
To determine whether human Borrelia miyamotoi infection occurs in the far-western United States, we tested archived sera from northwestern California residents for antibodies to this emerging relapsing fever spirochete. These residents frequently were exposed to I. pacificus ticks in a region where B. miyamotoi tick infection has been reported. We used a two-step B. miyamotoi rGlpQ assay and a B. miyamotoi whole-cell lysate (WCL) assay to detect B. miyamotoi antibody. We also employed Borrelia hermsii and Borrelia burgdorferi WCL assays to examine if these Borrelia induce cross reacting antibody to B. miyamotoi. Sera were collected from 101 residents in each of two consecutive years. The sera of 12 and 14 residents in years one and two, respectively, were B. miyamotoi rGlpQ seroreactive. Sufficient sera were available to test 15 of the 26 seropositive samples using B. miyamotoi and B. hermsii WCL assays. Two residents in year one and seven residents in year two were seroreactive to both Borrelia antigens. Although discernible differences in seroreactivity were evident between the B. miyamotoi and B. hermsii WCL assays, infection with one or the other could not be determined with certainty. Sera from two Borrelia burgdorferi /B. miyamotoi seropositive subjects reacted strongly against B. miyamotoi and B. hermsii WCL antigens. Ecological, epidemiological, and clinical data implicated B. miyamotoi as the probable cause of infection among those whose sera reacted against both antigens. Our findings suggest that human B. miyamotoi infection occurs in northern California and that B. hermsii and B. burgdorferi infections produce antibodies that cross-react with B. miyamotoi antigens. Health care professionals in the far-western United States should be aware that B. miyamotoi disease may occur throughout the geographic distribution of I. pacificus and that improved relapsing fever group spirochete antibody assays are urgently needed.
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49
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Jobe DA, Lovrich SD, Oldenburg DG, Kowalski TJ, Callister SM. Borrelia miyamotoi Infection in Patients from Upper Midwestern United States, 2014-2015. Emerg Infect Dis 2018; 22:1471-3. [PMID: 27434048 PMCID: PMC4982184 DOI: 10.3201/eid2208.151878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We confirmed Borrelia miyamotoi infection in 7 patients who had contracted an illness while near La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA, an area where Ixodes scapularis ticks are endemic. B. miyamatoi infection should now be considered among differential diagnoses for patients from the midwestern United States who have signs and symptoms suggestive of tickborne illness.
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50
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James AE, Rogovskyy AS, Crowley MA, Bankhead T. Cis-acting DNA elements flanking the variable major protein expression site of Borrelia hermsii are required for murine persistence. Microbiologyopen 2017; 7:e00569. [PMID: 29250931 PMCID: PMC6011951 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Revised: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In Borrelia hermsii, antigenic variation occurs as a result of a nonreciprocal gene conversion event that places one of ~60 silent variable major protein genes downstream of a single, transcriptionally active promoter. The upstream homology sequence (UHS) and downstream homology sequence (DHS) are two putative cis‐acting DNA elements that have been predicted to serve as crossover points for homologous recombination. In this report, a targeted deletion/in cis complementation technique was used to directly evaluate the role for these elements in antigenic switching. The results demonstrate that deletion of the expression site results in an inability of the pathogen to relapse in immunocompetent mice, and that the utilized technique was successful in producing complemented mutants that are capable of antigenic switching. Additional complemented clones with mutations in the UHS and DHS of the expressed locus were then generated and evaluated for their ability to relapse in immunocompetent mice. Mutation of the UHS and inverted repeat sequence within the DHS rendered these mutants incapable of relapsing. Overall, the results establish the requirement of the inverted repeat of the DHS for antigenic switching, and support the importance of the UHS for B. hermsii persistence in the mammalian host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison E James
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Artem S Rogovskyy
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Michael A Crowley
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Troy Bankhead
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.,Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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