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Ostapchuk YO, Bissenbay AO, Kuligin AV, Zhigailov AV, Perfilyeva YV, Kan SA, Lushova AV, Stukolova OA, Sayakova ZZ, Abdolla N, Dmitrovskiy AM, Mashzhan AS, Kuatbekova SA, Dosmagambet Z, Shapiyeva ZZ, Naizabayeva DA, Ospanbekova NK, Yeszhanov A, Akhmetollayev IA, Skiba YA. Survey of tick-borne relapsing fever borreliae in southern and southeastern Kazakhstan. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102398. [PMID: 39332111 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102398] [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: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 08/31/2024] [Accepted: 09/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/29/2024]
Abstract
Tick-borne relapsing fever group borreliae (TBRFGB) are spirochetes that cause disease in humans and animals. Little is known about the prevalence of TBRFGB infections in ticks and humans in Kazakhstan. A total of 846 ticks belonging to ten species of the family Ixodidae and three species of the family Argasidae were collected from the vegetation, poultry shelters, domestic ruminants, bitten humans, pigeons, dogs and house walls in four oblasts of the southern and southeastern regions of Kazakhstan. The ticks were subjected to DNA extraction and identification of TBRFGB by conventional PCR using primers targeting flagella subunit B (flaB), glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase (glpQ) and P66 porin (P66) genes. The overall infection rate of TBRFGB in the ticks was 6.2 % (46/846). TBRFGB DNA was identified in Ixodes persulcatus (5.5 %; 26/477), Ornithodoros tartakovskyi (6 %; 2/36) and Argas persicus (13.4 %; 18/134) ticks. Partial sequencing of flaB, glpQ and P66 genes identified Borrelia miyamotoi in I. persulcatus and Borrelia anserina in A. persicus. To detect the presence of B. miyamotoi infection in people in the study region, we performed serological analysis of samples collected from 42 patients admitted to hospital with fever of unknown etiology or with a history of a tick bite. The analysis revealed IgM and IgG antibodies against one or several B. miyamotoi antigens in 10 % and 5 % of patients, respectively. The data obtained provide strong evidence of the presence of B. miyamotoi and B. anserina in the southern and southeastern regions of Kazakhstan, underscoring the need for increased awareness of potential infections caused by these borreliae in these regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yekaterina O Ostapchuk
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, 14 Zhahanger St., Almaty 050054, Kazakhstan; M.A. Aitkhozhin's Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, 86 Dosmukhamedov St., Almaty 050012, Kazakhstan; ECO-Consulting LLC, 143/93 Abay St., Almaty 040907, Kazakhstan.
| | - Akerke O Bissenbay
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, 14 Zhahanger St., Almaty 050054, Kazakhstan; M.A. Aitkhozhin's Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, 86 Dosmukhamedov St., Almaty 050012, Kazakhstan; Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 71 Al-Farabi Av., Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
| | - Artyom V Kuligin
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, 14 Zhahanger St., Almaty 050054, Kazakhstan; M.A. Aitkhozhin's Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, 86 Dosmukhamedov St., Almaty 050012, Kazakhstan; Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 71 Al-Farabi Av., Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
| | - Andrey V Zhigailov
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, 14 Zhahanger St., Almaty 050054, Kazakhstan; M.A. Aitkhozhin's Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, 86 Dosmukhamedov St., Almaty 050012, Kazakhstan
| | - Yuliya V Perfilyeva
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, 14 Zhahanger St., Almaty 050054, Kazakhstan; M.A. Aitkhozhin's Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, 86 Dosmukhamedov St., Almaty 050012, Kazakhstan.
| | - Sofiya A Kan
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, 14 Zhahanger St., Almaty 050054, Kazakhstan; M.A. Aitkhozhin's Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, 86 Dosmukhamedov St., Almaty 050012, Kazakhstan; Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 71 Al-Farabi Av., Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
| | - Anzhelika V Lushova
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, 14 Zhahanger St., Almaty 050054, Kazakhstan; M.A. Aitkhozhin's Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, 86 Dosmukhamedov St., Almaty 050012, Kazakhstan; Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 71 Al-Farabi Av., Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
| | - Olga A Stukolova
- Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Moscow 111123, Russia
| | - Zaure Z Sayakova
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, 14 Zhahanger St., Almaty 050054, Kazakhstan
| | - Nurshat Abdolla
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, 14 Zhahanger St., Almaty 050054, Kazakhstan; M.A. Aitkhozhin's Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, 86 Dosmukhamedov St., Almaty 050012, Kazakhstan
| | - Andrey M Dmitrovskiy
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, 14 Zhahanger St., Almaty 050054, Kazakhstan
| | - Akzhigit S Mashzhan
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, 14 Zhahanger St., Almaty 050054, Kazakhstan
| | - Saltanat A Kuatbekova
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, 14 Zhahanger St., Almaty 050054, Kazakhstan
| | - Zhaniya Dosmagambet
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, 14 Zhahanger St., Almaty 050054, Kazakhstan
| | - Zhanna Zh Shapiyeva
- Scientific Practical Center of Sanitary-Epidemiological Expertise and Monitoring, 84 Auezov St., Almaty 050008, Kazakhstan
| | - Dinara A Naizabayeva
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, 14 Zhahanger St., Almaty 050054, Kazakhstan; M.A. Aitkhozhin's Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, 86 Dosmukhamedov St., Almaty 050012, Kazakhstan
| | - Nailya K Ospanbekova
- Kazakh-Russian Medical University, 51/53 Abylai Khan St., Almaty 050004, Kazakhstan
| | - Aidyn Yeszhanov
- Institute of Zoology, 93 Al-Farabi Ave., Almaty 050060, Kazakhstan
| | | | - Yuriy A Skiba
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, 14 Zhahanger St., Almaty 050054, Kazakhstan; M.A. Aitkhozhin's Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, 86 Dosmukhamedov St., Almaty 050012, Kazakhstan
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Hoornstra D, Kuleshov KV, Fingerle V, Hepner S, Wagemakers A, Strube C, Castillo-Ramírez S, Bockenstedt LK, Telford SR, Sprong H, Platonov AE, Margos G, Hovius JW. Combining short- and long-read sequencing unveils geographically structured diversity in Borrelia miyamotoi. iScience 2024; 27:110616. [PMID: 39262806 PMCID: PMC11388275 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110616] [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: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi is an emerging Ixodes tick-borne human pathogen in the Northern hemisphere. The aim of the current study was to compare whole genome sequences of B. miyamotoi isolates from different continents. Using a combination of Illumina and PacBio platforms and a novel genome assembly and plasmid typing pipeline, we reveal that the 21 sequenced B. miyamotoi isolates and publically available B. miyamotoi genomes from North America, Asia, and Europe form genetically distinct populations and cluster according to their geographical origin, where distinct Ixodes species are endemic. We identified 20 linear and 17 circular plasmid types and the presence of specific plasmids for isolates originating from different continents. Linear plasmids lp12, lp23, lp41, and lp72 were core plasmids found in all isolates, with lp41 consistently containing the vmp expression site. Our data provide insights into the genetic basis of vector competence, virulence, and pathogenesis of B. miyamotoi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieuwertje Hoornstra
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Volker Fingerle
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Sabrina Hepner
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Alex Wagemakers
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Sam R Telford
- Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Grafton, MA, USA
| | - Hein Sprong
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | | | - Gabriele Margos
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Joppe W Hovius
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Immunology & Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Gofton AW, Popa-Baez A, Takano A, Soennichsen K, Michie M, Short M, Supriyono S, Pascoe J, Cusbert S, Mulley R. Characterisation and comparative genomics of three new Varanus-associated Borrelia spp. from Indonesia and Australia. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:317. [PMID: 37670353 PMCID: PMC10481545 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05937-4] [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: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Borrelia are important disease-causing tick- and louse-borne spirochaetes than can infect a wide variety of vertebrates, including humans and reptiles. Reptile-associated (REP) Borrelia, once considered a peculiarity, are now recognised as a distinct and important evolutionary lineage, and are increasingly being discovered worldwide in association with novel hosts. Numerous novel Borrelia spp. associated with monitor lizards (Varanus spp.) have been recently identified throughout the Indo-Pacific region; however, there is a lack of genomic data on these Borrelia. METHODS We used metagenomic techniques to sequence almost complete genomes of novel Borrelia spp. from Varanus varius and Varanus giganteus from Australia, and used long- and short-read technologies to sequence the complete genomes of two strains of a novel Borrelia sp. previously isolated from ticks infesting Varanus salvator from Indonesia. We investigated intra- and interspecies genomic diversity, including plasmid diversity and relatedness, among Varanus-associated Borrelia and other available REP Borrelia and, based on 712 whole genome orthologues, produced the most complete phylogenetic analysis, to the best of our knowledge, of REP Borrelia to date. RESULTS The genomic architecture of Varanus-associated Borrelia spp. is similar to that of Borrelia spp. that cause relapsing fever (RF), and includes a highly conserved megaplasmid and numerous smaller linear and circular plasmids that lack structural consistency between species. Analysis of PF32 and PF57/62 plasmid partitioning genes indicated that REP Borrelia plasmids fall into at least six distinct plasmid families, some of which are related to previously defined Borrelia plasmid families, whereas the others appear to be unique. REP Borrelia contain immunogenic variable major proteins that are homologous to those found in Borrelia spp. that cause RF, although they are limited in copy number and variability and have low sequence identities to RF variable major proteins. Phylogenetic analyses based on single marker genes and 712 single copy orthologs also definitively demonstrated the monophyly of REP Borrelia as a unique lineage. CONCLUSIONS In this work we present four new genomes from three novel Borrelia, and thus double the number of REP Borrelia genomes publicly available. The genomic characterisation of these Borrelia clearly demonstrates their distinctiveness as species, and we propose the names Borrelia salvatorii, 'Candidatus Borrelia undatumii', and 'Candidatus Borrelia rubricentralis' for them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander William Gofton
- Health and Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Canberra, Australia
| | - Angel Popa-Baez
- Health and Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Canberra, Australia
| | - Ai Takano
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Kari Soennichsen
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
| | - Michelle Michie
- Health and Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Canberra, Australia
| | - Makenna Short
- Health and Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Canberra, Australia
| | - Supriyono Supriyono
- Department of Animal Diseases and Veterinary Health, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Jack Pascoe
- School of Agricultural and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sue Cusbert
- School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
| | - Robert Mulley
- School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
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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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5
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Cleveland DW, Anderson CC, Brissette CA. Borrelia miyamotoi: A Comprehensive Review. Pathogens 2023; 12:267. [PMID: 36839539 PMCID: PMC9967256 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi is an emerging tick-borne pathogen in the Northern Hemisphere and is the causative agent of Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD). Borrelia miyamotoi is vectored by the same hard-bodied ticks as Lyme disease Borrelia, yet phylogenetically groups with relapsing fever Borrelia, and thus, has been uniquely labeled a hard tick-borne relapsing fever Borrelia. Burgeoning research has uncovered new aspects of B. miyamotoi in human patients, nature, and the lab. Of particular interest are novel findings on disease pathology, prevalence, diagnostic methods, ecological maintenance, transmission, and genetic characteristics. Herein, we review recent literature on B. miyamotoi, discuss how findings adapt to current Borrelia doctrines, and briefly consider what remains unknown about B. miyamotoi.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Catherine A. Brissette
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA
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6
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Armstrong BA, Brandt KS, Goodrich I, Gilmore RD. Evaluation of Immunocompetent Mouse Models for Borrelia miyamotoi Infection. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0430122. [PMID: 36715531 PMCID: PMC10100797 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04301-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi is a relapsing fever spirochete that is harbored by Ixodes spp. ticks and is virtually uncharacterized, compared to other relapsing fever Borrelia vectored by Ornithodoros spp. ticks. There is not an immunocompetent mouse model for studying B. miyamotoi infection in vivo or for transmission in the vector-host cycle. Our goal was to evaluate B. miyamotoi infections in multiple mouse breeds/strains as a prelude to the ascertainment of the best experimental infection model. Two B. miyamotoi strains, namely, LB-2001 and CT13-2396, as well as three mouse models, namely, CD-1, C3H/HeJ, and BALB/c, were evaluated. We were unable to observe B. miyamotoi LB-2001 spirochetes in the blood via darkfield microscopy or to detect DNA via real-time PCR post needle inoculation in the CD-1 and C3H/HeJ mice. However, LB-2001 DNA was detected via real-time PCR in the blood of the BALB/c mice after needle inoculation, although spirochetes were not observed via microscopy. CD-1, C3H/HeJ, and BALB/c mice generated an antibody response to B. miyamotoi LB-2001 following needle inoculation, but established infections were not detected, and the I. scapularis larvae failed to acquire spirochetes from the exposed CD-1 mice. In contrast, B. miyamotoi CT13-2396 was visualized in the blood of the CD-1 and C3H/HeJ mice via darkfield microscopy and detected by real-time PCR post needle inoculation. Both mouse strains seroconverted. However, no established infection was detected in the mouse organs, and the I. scapularis larvae failed to acquire Borrelia after feeding on CT13-2396 exposed CD-1 or C3H/HeJ mice. These findings underscore the challenges in establishing an experimental B. miyamotoi infection model in immunocompetent laboratory mice. IMPORTANCE Borrelia miyamotoi is a causative agent of hard tick relapsing fever, was first identified in the early 1990s, and was characterized as a human pathogen in 2011. Unlike other relapsing fever Borrelia species, B. miyamotoi spread by means of Ixodes ticks. The relatively recent recognition of this human pathogen means that B. miyamotoi is virtually uncharacterized, compared to other Borrelia species. Currently there is no standard mouse-tick model with which to study the interactions of the pathogen within its vector and hosts. We evaluated two B. miyamotoi isolates and three immunocompetent mouse models to identify an appropriate model with which to study tick-host-pathogen interactions. With the increased prevalence of human exposure to Ixodes ticks, having an appropriate model with which to study B. miyamotoi will be critical for the future development of diagnostics and intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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, Colorado, 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, Colorado, 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, Colorado, 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, Colorado, USA
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Hoornstra D, Stukolova OA, Karan LS, Sarksyan DS, Kolyasnikova NM, Markelov ML, Cherkashina AS, Dolgova AS, Sudina AE, Sokolova MI, Platonov AE, Hovius JW. Development and Validation of a Protein Array for Detection of Antibodies against the Tick-Borne Pathogen Borrelia miyamotoi. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0203622. [PMID: 36314925 PMCID: PMC9769530 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02036-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Current serological tests for the emerging tick-borne pathogen Borrelia miyamotoi lack diagnostic accuracy. To improve serodiagnosis, we investigated a protein array simultaneously screening for IgM and IgG reactivity against multiple recombinant B. miyamotoi antigens. The array included six B. miyamotoi antigens: glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase (GlpQ), multiple variable major proteins (Vmps), and flagellin. Sera included samples from cases of PCR-proven Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD), multiple potentially cross-reactive control groups (including patients with culture-proven Lyme borreliosis, confirmed Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, or other spirochetal infections), and several healthy control groups from regions where Ixodes is endemic and regions where it is nonendemic. Based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses, the cutoff for reactivity per antigen was set at 5 μg/mL for IgM and IgG. The individual antigens demonstrated high sensitivity but relatively low specificity for both IgM and IgG. The best-performing single antigen (GlpQ) showed a sensitivity of 88.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 78.9 to 93.5) and a specificity of 94.2% (95% CI, 92.7 to 95.6) for IgM/IgG. Applying the previous published diagnostic algorithm-defining seroreactivity as reactivity against GlpQ and any Vmp-revealed a significantly higher specificity of 98.5% (95% CI, 97.6 to 99.2) but a significantly lower sensitivity of 79.5% (95% CI, 69.3 to 87.0) for IgM/IgG compared to GlpQ alone. Therefore, we propose to define seroreactivity as reactivity against GlpQ and any Vmp or flagellin which resulted in a comparable sensitivity of 84.3% (95% CI, 74.7 to 90.8) and a significantly higher specificity of 97.9% (95% CI, 96.9 to 98.7) for IgM/IgG compared to GlpQ alone. In conclusion, we have developed and validated a novel serological tool to diagnose BMD that could be implemented in clinical practice and epidemiological studies. IMPORTANCE This paper describes the protein array as a novel serological test for the diagnosis of Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD), by reporting the methodology, the development of a diagnostic algorithm, and its extensive validation. With rising numbers of ticks and tick bites, tick-borne diseases, such as BMD, urgently deserve further societal and medical attention. B. miyamotoi is prevalent in Ixodes ticks across the northern hemisphere. Humans are exposed to, and infected by, B. miyamotoi and develop BMD in Asia, in North America, and to a lesser extent in Europe. However, the burden of infection and disease remains largely unknown, due to the noncharacteristic clinical presentation, together with the lack of awareness and availability of diagnostic tools. With this paper, we offer a novel diagnostic tool which will assist in assessing the burden of disease and could be implemented in clinical care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieuwertje Hoornstra
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Nadezhda M. Kolyasnikova
- Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Moscow, Russia
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | | | | | - Anna S. Dolgova
- St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Anna E. Sudina
- Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Moscow, Russia
| | | | | | - Joppe W. Hovius
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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8
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Hoornstra D, Azagi T, van Eck JA, Wagemakers A, Koetsveld J, Spijker R, Platonov AE, Sprong H, Hovius JW. Prevalence and clinical manifestation of Borrelia miyamotoi in Ixodes ticks and humans in the northern hemisphere: a systematic review and meta-analysis. THE LANCET. MICROBE 2022; 3:e772-e786. [PMID: 36113496 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(22)00157-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Various studies have evaluated the infection of Ixodes ticks and humans with the relapsing fever spirochaete Borrelia miyamotoi. However, to our knowledge, the prevalence of infection and disease has not been assessed systematically. We aimed to examine the prevalence of B miyamotoi in Ixodes ticks and humans, and the disease it can cause, in the northern hemisphere. METHODS For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched PubMed and Web of Science up to March 1, 2021. Studies assessing Ixodes tick infection published since Jan 1, 2011 were eligible, whereas no time limitation was placed on reports of human infection and disease. We extracted B miyamotoi test positivity ratios and used a random-effects model to calculate estimated proportions of infected ticks, infected humans, and human disease with 95% CI. This study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42021268996. FINDINGS We identified 730 studies through database searches and 316 additional studies that referenced two seminal articles on B miyamotoi. Of these 1046 studies, 157 were included in the review, reporting on 165 637 questing ticks, 45 608 unique individuals, and 504 well described cases of B miyamotoi disease in humans. In ticks, the highest prevalence of B miyamotoi was observed in Ixodes persulcatus (2·8%, 95% CI 2·4-3·1) and the lowest in Ixodes pacificus (0·7%, 0·6-0·8). The overall seroprevalence in humans was 4·4% (2·8-6·3), with significantly (p<0·0001) higher seroprevalences in the high-risk group (4·6%, 2·6-7·1), participants with confirmed or suspected Lyme borreliosis (4·8%, 1·8-8·8), and individuals suspected of having a different tick-borne disease (11·9%, 5·6-19·9) than in healthy controls (1·3%, 0·4-2·8). Participants suspected of having a different tick-borne disease tested positive for B miyamotoi by PCR significantly more often than did the high-risk group (p=0·025), with individuals in Asia more likely to test positive than those in the USA (odds ratio 14·63 [95% CI 2·80-76·41]). INTERPRETATION B miyamotoi disease should be considered an emerging infectious disease, especially in North America and Asia. Prospective studies and increased awareness are required to obtain further insights into the burden of disease. FUNDING ZonMW and the European Regional Development Fund (Interreg).
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieuwertje Hoornstra
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Tal Azagi
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Jacqueline A van Eck
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Alex Wagemakers
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Joris Koetsveld
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - René Spijker
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Joppe W Hovius
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
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Goodrich I, McKee C, Margos G, Kosoy M. Molecular Characterization of a Novel Relapsing Fever Borrelia Species from the Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) in New Mexico, USA. J Wildl Dis 2022; 58:646-651. [PMID: 35737954 PMCID: PMC11292578 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-21-00148] [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] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The Borrelia genus comprises vector-borne, spirochete bacteria infecting vertebrates worldwide. We characterized a novel relapsing fever Borrelia species from a desert cottontail (Syvilagus audubonii) from New Mexico, US, using an established multilocus sequence analysis approach. Phylogenetic analysis of the flagellin gene (flaB) and four other protein-coding loci (clpX, pepX, recG, rplB) grouped the novel Borrelia species with hard tick relapsing fever borreliae Borrelia lonestari, Borrelia theileri, and Borrelia miyamotoi. The identity of the vectors and other vertebrate hosts, geographic distribution, and zoonotic potential of this novel Borrelia species deserve further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Goodrich
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521, USA
| | - Clifton McKee
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
| | - Gabriele Margos
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, National Reference Center for Borrelia, Veterinarstrasse 2, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Michael Kosoy
- KB One Health, LLC, 3244 Reedgrass Court, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521, USA
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Co-infections with multiple pathogens in natural populations of Ixodes persulcatus ticks in Mongolia. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:236. [PMID: 35765092 PMCID: PMC9238073 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05356-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In Mongolia, the taiga tick Ixodes persulcatus is the major vector of tick-borne pathogens. Knowledge about co-infections of these pathogens in ticks is necessary both for understanding their persistence in nature and for diagnosing and treating tick-borne diseases. Methods The prevalence of seven tick-borne infections in 346 I. persulcatus collected from the Selenge and Bulgan provinces of Mongolia was evaluated using real-time PCR. Quantification of Borrelia spp. was performed using multiplex quantitative PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Genetic analysis of Borrelia spp. in 11 ticks infected with Borrelia miyamotoi, including six ticks co-infected with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), was performed by high-throughput sequencing of the flaB gene fragment. Results Six ticks (1.7%) were infected with tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV); 171 (49.4%), with B. burgdorferi sensu lato; 17 (4.9%), with B. miyamotoi; 47 (13.6%), with Anaplasma phagocytophilum; and 56 (16.2%), with Ehrlichia sp. Neither Rickettsia sibirica nor R. heilongjiangensis were detected. Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. occurred as co-infection in 55 (32.2%) of all infected ticks. The other pathogens co-infected ticks in 58.8–70.2% of cases. No pairwise associations between co-infecting pathogens were observed, with the exception of a positive association between A. phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia sp. infections. The spirochete loads of B. miyamotoi were significantly higher than those of B. burgdorferi s.l. (mean: 5.2 vs 4.0 log10 genome copies/tick, respectively). Ten isolates of B. miyamotoi belonged to the Siberian lineage. Borrelia burgdorferi s.l was represented by nine isolates of B. afzelii, B. bavariensis and B. garinii. Conclusions In populations of I. persulcatus inhabiting the Selenge and Bulgan provinces of Mongolia, five vector-borne pathogens, i.e. TBEV, B. burgdorferi s.l., B. miyamotoi, A. phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia sp., persist independently from each other, with the exception of A. phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia sp. which seem to share the circulation mode. The discrepancies in B. burgdorferi s.l. and B. miyamotoi prevalence and spirochete load per tick suggest that different ecological niches are occupied by Lyme disease and relapsing fever agents. High-throughput sequencing allows genetic identification of borreliae species in co-infected ticks. Graphical Abstract ![]()
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Trevisan G, Cinco M, Trevisini S, di Meo N, Ruscio M, Forgione P, Bonin S. Borreliae Part 2: Borrelia Relapsing Fever Group and Unclassified Borrelia. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:1117. [PMID: 34827110 PMCID: PMC8615063 DOI: 10.3390/biology10111117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Borreliae of the relapsing fever group (RFG) are heterogenous and can be divided mainly into three groups according to vectors, namely the soft-tick-borne relapsing fever (STBRF) Borreliae, the hard-tick-borne relapsing fever (HTBRF) Borreliae, the louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) Borreliae, and the avian relapsing fever ones. With respect to the geographical distribution, the STBRF Borreliae are further subdivided into Old World and New World strains. Except for the Avian relapsing fever group Borreliae, which cause avian spirochetosis, all the others share infectivity in humans. They are indeed the etiological agent of both endemic and epidemic forms of relapsing fever, causing high spirochaetemia and fever. Vectors are primarily soft ticks of Ornithodoros spp. in the STBRF group; hard ticks, notably Ixodes sp., Amblyomma sp., Dermacentor sp., and Rhipicephalus sp., in the HTBRF group; and the louse pediculus humanus humanus in the TBRF one. A recent hypothesis was supported for a common ancestor of RFG Borreliae, transmitted at the beginning by hard-body ticks. Accordingly, STBRF Borreliae switched to use soft-bodied ticks as a vector, which was followed by the use of lice by Borrelia recurrentis. There are also new candidate species of Borreliae, at present unclassified, which are also described in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giusto Trevisan
- DSM—Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (G.T.); (N.d.M.)
| | - Marina Cinco
- DSV—Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Sara Trevisini
- ASUGI—Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina, 34129 Trieste, Italy; (S.T.); (M.R.)
| | - Nicola di Meo
- DSM—Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (G.T.); (N.d.M.)
- ASUGI—Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina, 34129 Trieste, Italy; (S.T.); (M.R.)
| | - Maurizio Ruscio
- ASUGI—Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina, 34129 Trieste, Italy; (S.T.); (M.R.)
| | - Patrizia Forgione
- UOSD Dermatologia, Centro Rif. Regionale Malattia di Hansen e Lyme, P.O. dei Pellegrini, ASL Napoli 1 Centro, 80145 Naples, Italy;
| | - Serena Bonin
- DSM—Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (G.T.); (N.d.M.)
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