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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Namjoshi P, Lubembe DM, Sultana H, Neelakanta G. Antibody-blocking of a tick transporter impairs Anaplasma phagocytophilum colonization in Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9003. [PMID: 38637614 PMCID: PMC11026487 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59315-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The invasive Asian longhorned tick Haemaphysalis longicornis that vectors and transmits several animal pathogens is significantly expanding in the United States. Recent studies report that these ticks also harbor human pathogens including Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Babesia microti, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Therefore, studies that address the interactions of these ticks with human pathogens are important. In this study, we report the characterization of H. longicornis organic anion-transporting polypeptides (OATPs) in interactions of these ticks with A. phagocytophilum. Using OATP-signature sequence, we identified six OATPs in the H. longicornis genome. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that H. longicornis OATPs are closer to other tick orthologs rather than to mammalian counterparts. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that OATPs are highly expressed in immature stages when compared to mature stages of these ticks. In addition, we noted that the presence of A. phagocytophilum upregulates a specific OATP in these ticks. We also noted that exogenous treatment of H. longicornis with xanthurenic acid, a tryptophan metabolite, influenced OATP expression in these ticks. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that antibody generated against Ixodes scapularis OATP cross-reacted with H. longicornis OATP. Furthermore, treatment of H. longicornis with OATP antibody impaired colonization of A. phagocytophilum in these ticks. These results not only provide evidence that the OATP-tryptophan pathway is important for A. phagocytophilum survival in H. longicornis ticks but also indicate OATP as a promising candidate for the development of a universal anti-tick vaccine to target this bacterium and perhaps other rickettsial pathogens of medical importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prachi Namjoshi
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Donald M Lubembe
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, Egerton University, Egerton, Kenya
| | - Hameeda Sultana
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Girish Neelakanta
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA.
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Stadelmann K, Forestier E, Richalet G, Monnet V, Epaulard O. Seroprevalence of Infection by Borrelia Species Responsible for Lyme Disease in the French Alps: Analysis of 27,360 Serology Tests, 2015-2020. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2024; 24:196-200. [PMID: 38441498 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Lyme borreliosis incidence is increasing in several areas; moreover, it has recently gained the public's attention. Apart from erythema migrans, Lyme disease diagnosis relies (among others) on serology test; however, the prevalence of positive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot (WB) assay has been poorly studied in the general population. We aimed to approach the seroprevalence of infection by Borrelia species responsible for Lyme disease in the French Isere department using city laboratories data. Patients and Methods: We retrieved all serological tests for Borrelia species responsible for Lyme disease performed in the two main networks of city laboratories between 2015 and 2020. All patients with both ELISA and WB IgG were considered seropositive. Results: We analyzed 27,360 tests (ELISA/ELISA+WB). Mean age was 50.9 ± 20.3 years (ranges: 0-101), with 57.1% females. Overall, 11.7% had IgG detected by ELISA, and 4.7% had IgG detected by both ELISA and WB assay. Seropositive status was more frequent in males (7.0% vs. 2.9%, p < 0.001). Seropositivity rate increased with age after a first peak in childhood; men aged 61-70 years had the highest seropositivity rate (10.3%). In addition, seropositivity rate was higher in persons from a rural area. In multivariate analysis, older age, male gender and living in a rural area were independently associated with seropositivity. Seropositivity rate was stable on the 2017-2020 period. Conclusion: The seroprevalence of infection by Borrelia species responsible for Lyme disease is high in Isere; this probably reduces the predictive positive value for Lyme disease of ELISA and WB IgG, suggesting that this serological test should not be performed for nonspecific symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Stadelmann
- Groupe de Recherche en Infectiologie Clinique, CIC1406, Inserm-Université Grenoble Alpes-CHUGA, Grenoble, France
| | - Emmanuel Forestier
- Infectious Disease Unit, Centre Hospitalier Métropole Savoie, Chambéry, France
| | | | | | - Olivier Epaulard
- Groupe de Recherche en Infectiologie Clinique, CIC1406, Inserm-Université Grenoble Alpes-CHUGA, Grenoble, France
- Infectious Disease Unit, Centre Hospitalier Unversitaire Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
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Vrijmoeth HD, Ursinus J, Botey-Bataller J, Kuijpers Y, Chu X, van de Schoor FR, Scicluna BP, Xu CJ, Netea MG, Kullberg BJ, van den Wijngaard CC, Li Y, Hovius JW, Joosten LAB. Genome-wide analyses in Lyme borreliosis: identification of a genetic variant associated with disease susceptibility and its immunological implications. BMC Infect Dis 2024; 24:337. [PMID: 38515037 PMCID: PMC10956190 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09217-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic variation underly inter-individual variation in host immune responses to infectious diseases, and may affect susceptibility or the course of signs and symptoms. METHODS We performed genome-wide association studies in a prospective cohort of 1138 patients with physician-confirmed Lyme borreliosis (LB), the most common tick-borne disease in the Northern hemisphere caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Genome-wide variants in LB patients-divided into a discovery and validation cohort-were compared to two healthy cohorts. Additionally, ex vivo monocyte-derived cytokine responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to several stimuli including Borrelia burgdorferi were performed in both LB patient and healthy control samples, as were stimulation experiments using mechanistic/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors. In addition, for LB patients, anti-Borrelia antibody responses were measured. Finally, in a subset of LB patients, gene expression was analysed using RNA-sequencing data from the ex vivo stimulation experiments. RESULTS We identified a previously unknown genetic variant, rs1061632, that was associated with enhanced LB susceptibility. This polymorphism was an eQTL for KCTD20 and ETV7 genes, and its major risk allele was associated with upregulation of the mTOR pathway and cytokine responses, and lower anti-Borrelia antibody production. In addition, we replicated the recently reported SCGB1D2 locus that was suggested to have a protective effect on B. burgdorferi infection, and associated this locus with higher Borrelia burgdorferi antibody indexes and lower IL-10 responses. CONCLUSIONS Susceptibility for LB was associated with higher anti-inflammatory responses and reduced anti-Borrelia antibody production, which in turn may negatively impact bacterial clearance. These findings provide important insights into the immunogenetic susceptibility for LB and may guide future studies on development of preventive or therapeutic measures. TRIAL REGISTRATION The LymeProspect study was registered with the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (NTR4998, registration date 2015-02-13).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hedwig D Vrijmoeth
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, 6500 HB, the Netherlands
| | - Jeanine Ursinus
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 22660, Amsterdam, 1100 DD, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Javier Botey-Bataller
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, 6500 HB, the Netherlands
- Department of Computational Biology for Individualised Infection Medicine, Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine, a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 30625, Hannover, Germany
- TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Yunus Kuijpers
- Department of Computational Biology for Individualised Infection Medicine, Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine, a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 30625, Hannover, Germany
- TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Xiaojing Chu
- Department of Computational Biology for Individualised Infection Medicine, Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine, a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 30625, Hannover, Germany
- TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Freek R van de Schoor
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, 6500 HB, the Netherlands
| | - Brendon P Scicluna
- Department of Applied Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Mater Dei Hospital, University of Malta, MSD 2080, Msida, Malta
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, Biomedical Sciences, University of Malta, MSD 2080, Msida, Malta
| | - Cheng-Jian Xu
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, 6500 HB, the Netherlands
- Department of Computational Biology for Individualised Infection Medicine, Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine, a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 30625, Hannover, Germany
- TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Mihai G Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, 6500 HB, the Netherlands
- Department of Immunology and Metabolism, Life and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, 53113, Bonn, Germany
| | - Bart Jan Kullberg
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, 6500 HB, the Netherlands
| | - Cees C van den Wijngaard
- National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM), Center for Infectious Disease Control, Bilthoven, 3720 BA, the Netherlands
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, 6500 HB, the Netherlands
- Department of Computational Biology for Individualised Infection Medicine, Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine, a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 30625, Hannover, Germany
- TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Joppe W Hovius
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 22660, Amsterdam, 1100 DD, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Leo A B Joosten
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, 6500 HB, the Netherlands.
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Ahrend H, Fibbe C, Jasper D, Ahrend A, Woelfel M, Layer P, Rosien U, Stope MB. Atypical Acute Neuroborreliosis With Leg Paresis and Constipation. In Vivo 2024; 38:940-943. [PMID: 38418126 PMCID: PMC10905454 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.13523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM An 80-year-old male patient had complained of proximal paresis of the left leg, pain and sensory disturbances in the left abdomen, exanthema in the left lower abdomen, coprostasis, and severe abdominal pain, as well as a progressive deterioration of his general condition for weeks. The patient had already presented to three other medical centers. Colonoscopy and computed tomography of the abdomen could not explain the pronounced symptomatology. In addition, there was acute elevator paresis of the left leg and severe pruritic rash on both sides of the trunk. CASE REPORT At the Israelitisches Krankenhaus Hamburg (IKH), laboratory parameters of urine, stool, and blood, ultrasound, electrocardiogram, and transthoracic echocardiography diagnosis showed no abnormalities. Esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy revealed patchy erythema and moderately severe chronic low-activity Helicobacter-positive gastritis. Colonoscopically, two polyps were ablated. A neurological examination with magnetic resonance imaging and electroneurography also showed normal findings. Evidence of autoimmune or rheumatoid disease was also absent. Finally, analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid revealed a lympho-granulocytic cell count (32/3 lymphocytes, 21/3 granulocytes) and an elevated Borrelia-specific IgG index (Ai) of 20.82. This finding was confirmed by a complementary serological diagnosis, in which Borrelia-specific IgM and IgG antibodies were detected. In sum, Bannwart's syndrome was assumed to be the cause of the neurological symptoms. The 21-day borreliosis therapy included doxycycline administration and analgesia with novaminsulfone and pregabalin as needed. CONCLUSION A complex symptomatology of leg paresis, lower abdominal pain and sensory disturbances, exanthema, and coprostasis in combination with a long-lasting poor general condition were found to be the consequences of atypical neuroborreliosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannes Ahrend
- Department of Medicine, Israelite Hospital Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christiane Fibbe
- Department of Medicine, Israelite Hospital Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dorothea Jasper
- Department of Medicine, Israelite Hospital Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anne Ahrend
- Department of Geriatrics, Evangelical Hospital Alsterdorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Woelfel
- Department of Medicine, Israelite Hospital Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Peter Layer
- Department of Medicine, Ikaneum, Israelite Hospital Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Rosien
- Department of Medicine, Israelite Hospital Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Matthias B Stope
- Department of Gynecology and Gynecological Oncology, Research Laboratories, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Hyung HJ, Choi YS, Park J, Lee KJ, Kang JG. Molecular detection of Borrelia theileri in cattle in Korea. Parasites Hosts Dis 2024; 62:151-156. [PMID: 38443779 PMCID: PMC10915267 DOI: 10.3347/phd.23105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Bovine borreliosis, caused by Borrelia theileri which is transmitted via hard tick bites, is associated with mild clinical symptoms, such as fever, lethargy, hemoglobinuria, anorexia, and anemia. Borrelia theileri infects various animals, such as cattle, deer, horses, goats, sheep, and wild ruminants, in Africa, Australia, and South America. Notably, no case of B. theileri infection has been reported in Korean cattle to date. In this study, 101 blood samples were collected from a Korean indigenous cattle breed, among which 1.98% tested positive for B. theileri via nested PCR. The obtained sequences exhibited high homology with B. theileri strains identified in other regions. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA confirmed the B. theileri group affiliation; however, flagellin B sequences exhibited divergence, potentially due to regional evolutionary differences. This study provides the first molecular confirmation of B. theileri infection in Korean livestock. Further isolation and nucleotide sequence analyses are necessary to better understand the presence of B. theileri strains in cows in Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeon-Ji Hyung
- Korea Zoonosis Research Institute, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan 54531,
Korea
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan 54531,
Korea
| | - Yun-Sil Choi
- Korea Zoonosis Research Institute, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan 54531,
Korea
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan 54531,
Korea
| | - Jinho Park
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan 54531,
Korea
| | - Kwang-Jun Lee
- Division of Zoonotic and Vector Borne Diseases Research, Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongju 28159,
Korea
| | - Jun-Gu Kang
- Korea Zoonosis Research Institute, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan 54531,
Korea
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Santodomingo A, Thomas R, Thompson M, Robbiano S, Espinoza P, Muñoz-Leal S. Experimental transmission of a novel relapsing fever group Borrelia harbored by Ornithodoros octodontus (Ixodida: Argasidae) in Chile. Exp Appl Acarol 2024; 92:241-252. [PMID: 38321309 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00881-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Tick-borne relapsing fever spirochetes of genus Borrelia thrive in enzootic cycles involving Ornithodoros spp. (Argasidae) mainly, and rodents. The isolation of these spirochetes usually involves a murine model in which ticks are fed and the spirochetes detected in blood several days later. Such an experiment also demonstrates that a given species of tick is competent in the transmission of the bacteria. Here, soft ticks Ornithodoros octodontus were collected in Northern Chile with the objective to experimentally determine its capacity to transmit a Borrelia sp. detected in a previous study. Two Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) were used to feed nymphs and adults of O. octodontus and the spirochetes in blood were inspected by dark-field microscopy and nested PCR. Although spirochetes were not seen in blood, DNA was detected in only one animal 11 days after the ticks were fed. Genetic sequences of Borrelia flaB, clpX, pepX, recG, rplB, and uvrA genes retrieved from DNA extraction of positive blood were employed to construct two phylogenetic analyses. On the one hand, the flaB tree showed the Borrelia sp. transmitted by O. octodontus clustering with Borrelia sp. Alcohuaz, which was previously detected in that same tick species. On the other hand, concatenated clpX-pepX-recG-rplB-uvrA demonstrated that the characterized spirochete branches together with "Candidatus Borrelia caatinga", a recently discovered species from Brazil. Based on the genetic profile presented in this study, the name "Candidatus Borrelia octodonta" is proposed for the species transmitted by O. octodontus. The fact that spirochetes were not observed in blood of guinea pigs, may reflect the occurrence of low spirochetemia, which could be explained because the susceptibility of infection varies depending on the rodent species that is used in experimental models. Although the vertebrate reservoir of "Ca. Borrelia octodonta" is still unknown, Octodon degus, a rodent species that is commonly parasitized by O. octodontus, should be a future target to elucidate this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Santodomingo
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
| | - Richard Thomas
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Michele Thompson
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Sofía Robbiano
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Pablo Espinoza
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
- ONG Dosel, San Fabián, Chile
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
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Kapo N, Zuber Bogdanović I, Gagović E, Žekić M, Veinović G, Sukara R, Mihaljica D, Adžić B, Kadriaj P, Cvetkovikj A, Djadjovski I, Potkonjak A, Velo E, Savić S, Tomanović S, Omeragić J, Beck R, Hodžić A. Ixodid ticks and zoonotic tick-borne pathogens of the Western Balkans. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:45. [PMID: 38297327 PMCID: PMC10832161 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06116-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Ixodid ticks are distributed across all countries of the Western Balkans, with a high diversity of species. Many of these species serve as vectors of pathogens of veterinary and medical importance. Given the scattered data from Western Balkan countries, we have conducted a comprehensive review of available literature, including some historical data, with the aim to compile information about all recorded tick species and associated zoonotic pathogens in this region. Based on the collected data, the tick fauna of the Western Balkans encompasses 32 tick species belonging to five genera: Ixodes, Haemaphysalis, Dermacentor, Rhipicephalus and Hyalomma. A range of pathogens responsible for human diseases has also been documented, including viruses, bacteria and parasites. In this review, we emphasize the necessity for integrated surveillance and reporting, urging authorities to foster research by providing financial support. Additionally, international and interdisciplinary collaborations should be encouraged that include the exchange of expertise, experiences and resources. The present collaborative effort can effectively address gaps in our knowledge of ticks and tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naida Kapo
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | | | - Ema Gagović
- Department for Bacteriology and Parasitology, Laboratory for Parasitology, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marina Žekić
- Scientific Veterinary Institute "Novi Sad", Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Gorana Veinović
- Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ratko Sukara
- Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Darko Mihaljica
- Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Bojan Adžić
- Diagnostic Veterinary Laboratory, Podgorica, Montenegro
| | - Përparim Kadriaj
- Vector Control Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Control of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Public Health, Tirana, Albania
| | - Aleksandar Cvetkovikj
- Veterinary Institute, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Skopje, North Macedonia
| | - Igor Djadjovski
- Veterinary Institute, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Skopje, North Macedonia
| | - Aleksandar Potkonjak
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Enkelejda Velo
- Vector Control Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Control of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Public Health, Tirana, Albania
| | - Sara Savić
- Scientific Veterinary Institute "Novi Sad", Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Snežana Tomanović
- Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jasmin Omeragić
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Relja Beck
- Department for Bacteriology and Parasitology, Laboratory for Parasitology, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Adnan Hodžić
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (CMESS), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Kim MM, Shea G, Šlapeta J. Detection of tick-borne bacterial DNA (Rickettsia sp.) in reptile ticks Amblyomma moreliae from New South Wales, Australia. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:89. [PMID: 38194190 PMCID: PMC10776464 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08108-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Ticks are major arthropod vectors of disease, transmitting tick-borne pathogens during blood meal episodes. Rickettsia spp. and Borrelia spp. are two tick-borne pathogens of zoonotic concern previously identified in DNA isolates from the tick genera Amblyomma and Bothriocroton associated with reptilian hosts in Australia. Some reports suggest that these reptile ticks bite and attach to humans via accidental parasitism and transmit disease, with the tick Bothriocroton hydrosauri known to transmit Rickettsia honei or Flinders Island Spotted Fever Rickettsia to humans. This descriptive study aims to identify the ticks collected from wild reptiles submitted to veterinary clinics and captured by snake rescuers from New South Wales (NSW), Australia, and detect the presence of tick-borne bacterial DNA using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to detect Rickettsia spp. and Bartonella spp. and conventional nested-PCR to detect Borrelia spp. Morphological identification revealed ticks removed from one eastern blue-tongued lizard (Tiliqua scincoides scincoides) from North-Eastern NSW (Lismore), one eastern blue-tongued lizard from the Greater Sydney area (Canley Heights), one diamond python (Morelia spilota spilota) from the Greater Sydney area (Woronora Heights) and one red-bellied black snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus) from the Greater Sydney Area (Cronulla) in New South Wales were Amblyomma moreliae. No ticks were positive for Bartonella spp. and Borrelia spp. DNA using real-time PCR targeting ssrA gene and nested PCR targeting Borrelia-specific 16S rRNA gene, respectively. Real-time PCR targeting gltA, ompA, ompB and 17kDa gene of Rickettsia spp. revealed 14 out of 16 ticks were positive. The undescribed Rickettsia sp. DNA was identical to that previously recovered from reptile ticks in Australia and closely related to Rickettsia tamurae and Rickettsia monacensis, both of which are aetiologic pathogens of the Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis (SFGR). These results accentuate the ongoing need for increased study efforts to understand zoonotic potential of bacteria from reptile ticks and the tick-reptile-human relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Misong Kim
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Glenn Shea
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
- Australian Museum Research Institute, The Australian Museum, Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Jan Šlapeta
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.
- The University of Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.
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10
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Chiang PS, Lai YW, Chung HH, Chia YT, Wang CC, Teng HJ, Chen SL. First molecular detection of a novel Babesia species from Haemaphysalis hystricis in Taiwan. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102284. [PMID: 38016211 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Newly recorded ticks and emerging tick-borne pathogens have recently been reported in subtropical and tropical East Asia. In this study, a total of 1,615 ticks (259 Haemaphysalis hystricis, 1334 Rhipicephalus microplus, 19 H. flava, and 3 R. haemaphysaloides) were collected by flagging from vegetation in Taiwan during 2019-2021. All 1,615 captured tick samples tested negative for SFTSV and Borrelia, but 12 of 356 tick samples tested positive for PCR amplification of a fragment of the 18S rRNA gene of Babesia spp., with an infection rate of 3.37 % (12/356) and a minimum infection rate of 0.74 % (12/1,615). Among the 12 detected Babesia spp., 11 were identified as Babesia bigemina in R. microplus, and the other one, detected in H. hystricis, was classified as an unnamed novel Babesia sp. Interestingly, the 18S rRNA sequence from the isolate detected in H. hystricis shared 98.79 % to 99.50 % identity with those of recent isolates from Japan, China and Nigeria. The exact origin of the Babesia species is not known, but the findings highlight the importance of international cooperation and the exchange of information on ticks and tick-borne pathogens. This represents a rare report of a Babesia sp. identified in H. hystricis, a tick species that has been proposed as a novel vector for some Babesia spp. This study supports H. hystricis as a possible vector of Babesia spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pai-Shan Chiang
- Center for Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, No. 6, Linsen S. Road, Taipei City 10050, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Wen Lai
- Center for Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, No. 6, Linsen S. Road, Taipei City 10050, Taiwan
| | - Han-Hsuan Chung
- Center for Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, No. 6, Linsen S. Road, Taipei City 10050, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Ting Chia
- Center for Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, No. 6, Linsen S. Road, Taipei City 10050, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Cheng Wang
- Center for Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, No. 6, Linsen S. Road, Taipei City 10050, Taiwan
| | - Hwa-Jen Teng
- Center for Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, No. 6, Linsen S. Road, Taipei City 10050, Taiwan
| | - Shiu-Ling Chen
- Center for Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, No. 6, Linsen S. Road, Taipei City 10050, Taiwan.
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11
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Cornero R, Irfan SS, Cachaco S, Zhou W, Byne A, Howard M, McIntyre H, Birkaya B, Liotta L, Luchini A. Identification of Unambiguous Borrelia Peptides in Human Urine Using Affinity Capture and Mass Spectrometry. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2742:105-122. [PMID: 38165619 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3561-2_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
The combination of advanced mass spectrometry and enrichment-based sample preparation methods has enhanced analytical capabilities in clinical proteomics. In this chapter, we describe a method of proteome analysis to identify Borrelia-derived peptides in urine that includes a sample affinity enrichment method coupled with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis and a bioinformatic peptide authentication algorithm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocio Cornero
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Sumaiya Safia Irfan
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Silvia Cachaco
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Weidong Zhou
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Ahana Byne
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Marissa Howard
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | | | - Barbara Birkaya
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Lance Liotta
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Alessandra Luchini
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA.
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12
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Van Wyk CL, Mtshali S, Ramatla T, Lekota KE, Xuan X, Thekisoe O. Distribution of Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Heamaphysalis elliptica dog ticks and pathogens they are carrying: A systematic review. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2024; 47:100969. [PMID: 38199685 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2023.100969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The role of ixodid ticks especially Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Heamaphysalis elliptica in the epidemiology of several diseases of veterinary and public health importance have been documented. This study conducted a systematic review focusing on the distribution of R. sanguineus and H. elliptica, as well as the common tick-borne pathogens they harbour. The Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Web of Science databases were used to search for English journal articles published between January 1990 and June 2021. The articles were assessed by following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. This systematic review was registered on PROSPERO [(ID no: CRD42022327372). Of the studies included in the systematic review, 247 and 19 articles had identified R. sanguineus and H. elliptica respectively, whereas 15 articles had identified both tick species. There is a reported worldwide distribution of R. sanguineus from 64 countries, whereas H. elliptica was only reported in the African continent from 6 countries. In total, 120 articles that were included in this systematic review reported detection of tick-borne pathogens from R. sanguineus (n = 118 articles) and/or H. elliptica (n = 2 articles) ticks. According to the studies tick-borne pathogens harboured by R. sanguineus included protozoa such as Babesia spp., Hepatozoon spp., Leishmania spp., and Theileria spp., as well as bacteria such as Acinetobacter spp. Anaplasma spp., Bacillus spp., Borrelia spp., Brucella spp., Coxiella spp., and Staphylococcus spp. The H. elliptica was reported to be harbouring Babesia spp., Ehrlichia spp. and Rickettsia spp. Most of the studies (50%) used the conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique for the detection of tick-borne pathogens, followed by real-time PCR (qPCR) (n = 26), and nested PCR (n = 22). This systematic review has shed light on the distribution of two common dog ticks as well as the tick-borne pathogens of veterinary and zoonotic importance they are harbouring. This data will enable surveillance studies that can report whether the distribution of these ticks and their associated tick-borne pathogens is expanding or shrinking or is stable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara-Lee Van Wyk
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa
| | - Senzo Mtshali
- National Institute of Communicable Diseases, Sandringham 2131, South Africa
| | - Tsepo Ramatla
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa.
| | - Kgaugelo E Lekota
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa
| | - Xuenan Xuan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Oriel Thekisoe
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa
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13
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Osikowicz LM, Rizzo MR, Hojgaard A, Maes SE, Eisen RJ. Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species in host-seeking Ixodes species ticks in the United States. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102270. [PMID: 37813001 PMCID: PMC10877637 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the United States and is transmitted by Ixodes scapularis in the eastern US and I. pacificus in the west. The causative agents, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bbss) and B. mayonii belong to the B. burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) species complex. An additional eight species of Bbsl have been identified in Ixodes species ticks in the US, but their geographic distribution, vector associations, human encounter rates and pathogenicity in humans are poorly defined. To better understand the geographic distribution and vector associations of Bbsl spirochetes in frequent and infrequent human-biting Ixodes species ticks in the US, we previously screened 29,517 host-seeking I. scapularis or I. pacificus ticks and 692 ticks belonging to eight other Ixodes species for Borrelia spirochetes using a previously described tick testing algorithm that utilizes a combination of real-time PCR and Sanger sequencing for Borrelia species identification. The assay was designed to detect known human pathogens spread by Ixodes species ticks, but it was not optimized to detect Bbsl co-infections. To determine if such co-infections were overlooked particularly in ticks infected with Bbss, we retested and analyzed a subsample of 845 Borrelia infected ticks using a next generation sequencing multiplex PCR amplicon sequencing (MPAS) assay that can identify Borrelia species and Bbsl co-infections. The assay also includes targets that can molecularly confirm identifications of Ixodes species ticks to better inform pathogen-vector associations. We show that Bbss is the most prevalent species in I. scapularis and I. pacificus; other Bbsl species were rarely detected in I. scapularis and the only Bbsl co-infections identified in I. scapularis were with Bbss and B. mayonii. We detected B. andersonii in I. dentatus in the Mid-Atlantic and Upper Midwest regions, B. kurtenbachii in I. scapularis in the Upper Midwest, B. bissettiae in I. pacificus and I. spinipalpis in the Northwest, and B. carolinensis in I. affinis in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, and B. lanei in I. spinipalpis in the Northwest. Twelve of 62 (19.4%) Borrelia-infected I. affinis from the Mid-Atlantic region were co-infected with Bbss and B. carolinensis. Our data support the notion that Bbsl species are maintained in largely independent enzootic cycles, with occasional spill-over resulting in multiple Bbsl species detected in Ixodes species ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn M Osikowicz
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, United States.
| | - Maria R Rizzo
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Andrias Hojgaard
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Sarah E Maes
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, United States
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14
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Cartau T, Eldin C, Le Turnier P, Eskenazi A, Walter G, Coignard C, Schrooten W, Caumes E, Djossou F, Epelboin L. Is there Lyme borreliosis in French Guiana? Descriptive study among patients referred for a suspected Lyme borreliosis in an Amazonian hospital between 2010 and 2022. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102255. [PMID: 37734165 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis (LB) existence in South America is debated, especially in the Amazon region. The infection with Lyme borreliae has never been reported in French Guiana where Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is not found in ticks. We describe the final diagnosis and presumed place of acquisition in patients consulting for suspicion of LB. We retrospectively collected data from all consecutive patients consulting for a suspicion of LB between 2010 and 2021 at Cayenne Hospital, French Guiana. Patients were classified by an adjudication committee as confirmed LB if they met the criteria of the French consensus, as possible LB if they had compatible symptoms and a good outcome after appropriate treatment, or excluded when a differential diagnosis was found. The place of acquisition was discussed in case of possible or confirmed case. Twenty-six patients were included. Rheumatologic symptoms were the most reported (88 %) followed by neurological symptoms (61 %). Twenty-four (92 %) of these patients were born out of French Guiana. Diagnosis of LB was considered as confirmed in 2 patients (8 %), for whom the place of acquisition was likely mainland France, and as possible in 3 patients (11 %) with early localized LB presumably acquired in French Guiana. Functional somatic disorders were diagnosed in 13 (50 %) patients whereas 9 (35 %) were found with another disease. This study did not confirm the acquisition of LB in French Guiana. However, three possible autochthonous cases encourage clinicians working in the Amazon area to stay aware of LB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Cartau
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of Cayenne, rue des Flamboyants, 97306, Cayenne, France.
| | - Carole Eldin
- Unité des virus émergents, Aix Marseille University, AP-HM, Chemin des Bourrely, 13015, Marseille, France
| | - Paul Le Turnier
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of Cayenne, rue des Flamboyants, 97306, Cayenne, France; CIC Inserm 1424, Hospital of Cayenne, rue des Flamboyants, 97306, Cayenne, France
| | - Anaïs Eskenazi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of Cayenne, rue des Flamboyants, 97306, Cayenne, France
| | - Gaëlle Walter
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of Cayenne, rue des Flamboyants, 97306, Cayenne, France
| | - Catherine Coignard
- Medical Biologist, Eurofins Biomnis, 78 avenue de Verdun, 94208, Ivry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Ward Schrooten
- Department of Medical Information, Hospital of Cayenne, rue des Flamboyants, 97306, Cayenne, France; Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Eric Caumes
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Hotel Dieu, 1 place du Parvis Notre Dame, 75004, Paris, France
| | - Félix Djossou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of Cayenne, rue des Flamboyants, 97306, Cayenne, France
| | - Loïc Epelboin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of Cayenne, rue des Flamboyants, 97306, Cayenne, France; CIC Inserm 1424, Hospital of Cayenne, rue des Flamboyants, 97306, Cayenne, France
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15
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Karvonen K. Preparation of Borrelia-Infected Mammalian Cells for Helium Ion Microscopy. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2742:123-129. [PMID: 38165620 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3561-2_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
Preparation of mammalian cells for a Borrelia burgdorferi infection can be cumbersome especially if investigating possible cell entry processes. The initial steps of infection or entry into cells by a pathogen often involve attachment to the cell surface and plasma membrane changes. To topologically investigate with great resolution and detail these interactions of the pathogen and the mammalian cell, helium ion microscopy (HIM) can be employed. Here we describe a protocol used to define a specific multiplicity of infection (MOI) of Borrelia burgdorferi on a human chondrosarcoma cell line (SW1353) so that fine detail structures on the mammalian cell can be observed and quantified by HIM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kati Karvonen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, yväskylä, Finland.
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16
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Bland J, McGowan C, Bush E, Lloyd V. Constructing an ELISA for Detection of Anti- Borrelia in Wildlife and Agricultural Animals. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2742:47-67. [PMID: 38165614 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3561-2_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
Zoonotic diseases have major impacts on human and animal health, as well as being ecologically significant. Lyme Borreliosis or Lyme disease, caused by infection by pathogenic members of the Borrelia genus, is among these zoonotic diseases. Serology is one of the most accessible means for indirect surveillance of pathogen presence by monitoring the presence, abundance, and type of immune response to the pathogen or pathogen-associated epitopes. Serological surveillance of wild animals is important as wild animals are the primary reservoirs of many zoonotic diseases. Similarly, serological surveillance of agricultural animals is important due to their economic importance, in addition to animal welfare concerns. However, serology in any non-model animal such as wildlife or agricultural animals is difficult because serology necessarily relies on blood samples from the animals being tested. While companion or laboratory animals are generally sufficiently accustomed to humans that blood samples can be obtained, obtaining blood samples from wild or agricultural animals is more challenging. This initial challenge is compounded by the absence of validated serological tools to evaluate antibody titres in the sera. In this chapter, we provide methods for constructing an ELISA for the detection of anti-Borrelia antibodies in non-model animals, using studies on horses and cows as a proof of principle. The methods focus on the problems specific to non-model animals including obtaining sera, options for determining positive and negative controls without the ability to perform controlled infections, and methods for test optimization and validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Bland
- Department of Biology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB, Canada
- Atlantic Veterinary College, Charlottetown, PE, Canada
| | - Caitlin McGowan
- Atlantic Veterinary College, Charlottetown, PE, Canada
- Nova Scotia, Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Dartmouth, NS, Canada
| | - Emma Bush
- Department of Biology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB, Canada
- Atlantic Veterinary College, Charlottetown, PE, Canada
| | - Vett Lloyd
- Department of Biology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB, Canada.
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17
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Sarani S, Enferadi A, Hasani SJ, Sarani MY, Rahnama M, Sarani F. Identification of zoonotic pathogenic bacteria from blood and ticks obtained from hares and long-eared hedgehogs (Hemiechinus megalofis) in eastern Iran. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2024; 104:102097. [PMID: 38029723 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2023.102097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
The role of wildlife in the complex balance of tick-borne diseases within ecosystems is crucial, as they serve as hosts for tick carriers and reservoirs for the pathogens carried by these ticks. This study aimed to investigate the presence of zoonotic pathogenic bacteria in wildlife, specifically in hares and long-eared hedgehogs (Hemiechinus megalofis), in the eastern region of Iran. The focus was on the detection of Borrelia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Anaplasma spp., Francisella spp., and Leptospira spp., using the Nested-PCR method. We analyzed a total of 124 blood samples, and 196 ticks collected from hares and long-eared hedgehogs were analyzed. The Nested-PCR method was employed to identify the presence of zoonotic pathogenic bacteria DNA. Our study revealed the presence of these zoonotic pathogenic bacteria in both wildlife species, indicating their potential role as hosts and reservoirs for the ticks carrying these pathogens. The specific presence and prevalence of Borrelia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Anaplasma spp., Francisella spp., and Leptospira spp. were determined through the Nested-PCR method. This study contributes to the limited knowledge about the involvement of wild animals in the transmission of tick-borne diseases. By using the Nested-PCR method, we successfully identified the presence of zoonotic pathogenic bacteria in hares and long-eared hedgehogs. This study emphasizes the need for further research to better understand the ecological process of tick-borne diseases, particularly the role of wildlife in their spread. Such knowledge is crucial for wildlife conservation efforts and the management of tick-borne diseases, ultimately benefiting both animal and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeedeh Sarani
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zabol University, Iran
| | - Ahmad Enferadi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Iran.
| | - Sayyed Jafar Hasani
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Iran
| | | | - Mohammad Rahnama
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zabol University, Iran
| | - Faroogh Sarani
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zabol University, Iran
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18
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Zhang L, Hou XX, Hao Q. [Progress in research of epidemiology of relapsing fever and prevention and control measures]. Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi 2023; 44:2012-2018. [PMID: 38129162 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112338-20230315-00149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Relapsing fever, caused by Borreliae of the relapsing fever groups, is an infectious disease, which would cause spirochaetaemia and repeated fever in human. To comprehensively understand the classification and distribution of relapsing fever, as well as correlated factors, this paper summarizes the progress in research of epidemiology of relapsing fever in the world, and suggests prevention and control measures. The disease is heterogenous and can be divided into three groups according to vectors, i.e. tick-borne relapsing fever, louse-borne relapsing fever and the avian relapsing fever. Tick borne relapsing fever can be further divided into two types: soft tick transmission and hard tick transmission. Soft tick-borne relapsing fever generally has obvious geographical distribution characteristics, while hard tick-borne relapsing fever is widely distributed all over the world. Louse-borne relapsing fever, also known as epidemic forms of relapsing fever, is caused by body lice, and the incidence is usually associated with war, famine, refugees and poor sanitation. The prevention and control of relapsing fever should be based on local conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, Division of Spirochetosis Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - X X Hou
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, Division of Spirochetosis Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Q Hao
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, Division of Spirochetosis Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
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19
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López Y, Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Muñoz-Leal S, Contreras V, Calderón A, Rivero R, Muñoz M, Ramírez JD, Mattar S. Borrelia puertoricensis in opossums (Didelphis marsupialis) from Colombia. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:448. [PMID: 38049822 PMCID: PMC10694944 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06016-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The genus Borrelia comprises pathogenic species of bacteria that pose a significant risk to public health. Borrelia spp. are emerging or reemerging infectious agents worldwide with complex transmission cycles, and many species use rodents as vertebrate reservoir hosts. Spirochetes morphologically compatible with Borrelia have been recurrently observed in opossums; however, there is currently a lack of genetic evidence confirming infection or supporting that these marsupials are hosts of Borrelia spirochetes. METHODS During 2017, 53 serum samples of Didelphis marsupialis from the municipality of Colosó (department of Sucre, Colombia) were collected and allocated in a serum bank. DNA extracted from the serum samples was submitted to a Borrelia genus-specific real-time PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Positive samples were subsequently derived from semi-nested PCR protocols to obtain large fragments of the 16S rRNA and flaB genes. Obtained amplicons were subjected to Sanger sequencing. One positive sample was randomly selected for next-generation sequencing (NGS). Obtained reads were mapped to genomes of Borrelia spp. and sequences of two genes used in a multilocus sequence typing scheme retrieved for taxonomic assignment and phylogenetic analyses. RESULTS Overall, 18.8% (10/53) of the samples were positive by qPCR. Of them, 80% (8/10) and 60% (6/10) were positive for the 16S rRNA and flaB genes after semi-nested PCRs, respectively. Bioinformatic analysis of one sample sequenced with NGS yielded 22 reads of genus Borrelia with different sizes. Two housekeeping genes, rplB and pyrG, were recovered. Nucleotide pairwise comparisons and phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA, flaB, rplB and pyrG genes showed that the Borrelia sp. found in opossums from Colosó corresponded to Borrelia puertoricensis. CONCLUSIONS We describe the first molecular evidence to our knowledge of B. puertoricensis in Colombia, specifically in opossums, and the first detection of this spirochete in a vertebrate host since its isolation from Ornithodoros puertoricensis in Panama. This detection is also relevant because of the epidemiological importance of opossums as reservoirs of zoonotic diseases to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yesica López
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Colombia
| | - Álvaro A Faccini-Martínez
- Servicio de Infectología, Hospital Militar Central, Bogotá, Colombia
- Servicios y Asesorías en Infectología - SAI, Bogotá, Colombia
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Verónica Contreras
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Colombia
| | - Alfonso Calderón
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Colombia
| | - Ricardo Rivero
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Colombia
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Marina Muñoz
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Juan David Ramírez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Salim Mattar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Colombia.
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Enferadi A, Ownagh A, Tavassoli M. Molecular Detection of Borrelia spp. in Ticks of Sheep and Goats by Nested PCR Method in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2023; 23:605-614. [PMID: 37722020 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Ticks are an important vector among arthropods associated with serious medical and veterinary problems. In this research, we investigate Borrelia species in ticks isolated from the surface of livestock (sheep and goat) in different regions of West Azerbaijan province. Materials and Methods: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using specific primers targeting Borrelia spp. genes. Borrelia spp. was identified through PCR. The positive PCR products were sent to Pishgam Company for sequencing. Sequenced data were analyzed, and phylogenetic analysis was performed using maximum likelihood method in MEGA V.10. Results: The detection rate of Borrelia spp. for 16srRNA gene 69 (n = 542; 12.7%; 95%Cl: 10.1%-15.8%), 42 (n = 542; 7.7%; 95%Cl: 5.78%-10.1%) positive on 5S-23SrRNA gene and ospA gene 4 (n = 542; 0.74%; 95%Cl: 0.29%-1.88%). Conclusion: These results are the first report in Iran to identify Borrelia spp. These results of the study showed that the Borrelia spp. in hard ticks detected by PCR and it was negative to soft ticks. it is important in public health implications at the studied areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Enferadi
- Department of Microbiology and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
| | - Abdolghaffar Ownagh
- Department of Microbiology and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
| | - Mousa Tavassoli
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
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Lee-Lewandrowski E, Turbett S, Branda JA, Lewandrowski K. Evaluation of the rapid Quidel Sofia Lyme fluorescent immunoassay as a first-tier test in a modified 2-tier testing algorithm for Lyme disease: A comparison with the Zeus ELISA Borrelia VlsE1/pepC10 lgG/IgM assay followed by the Zeus monovalent IgM/IgG confirmatory assay. Am J Clin Pathol 2023; 160:599-602. [PMID: 37549102 DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqad094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Recently modified 2-tier testing (MTTT) algorithms using 2 enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) as opposed to an EIA followed by immunoblot have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the screening and confirmation of Lyme disease. The Quidel Sofia Lyme fluorescent immunoassay is a rapid lateral-flow method that can be performed in real time, permitting on-demand testing. We evaluated the performance of the Sofia assay as a first-tier test in an MTTT algorithm. METHODS We compared the Sofia Lyme test with the Zeus ELISA Borrelia VlsE1/pepC10 lgG/IgM test, followed by the Zeus monovalent IgM/IgG EIA as the confirmatory test. RESULTS When used as a first-tier test compared with a standard Zeus MTTT assay, the positive percentage agreement was 91.4%% (95% CI, 77.6%-97.0%). The negative percentage agreement was 100% (95% CI, 94.0%-100%). The overall agreement was 98.3% (95% CI, 94.2%-99.4%). κ = 0.945, indicating "almost perfect agreement." CONCLUSIONS The Sofia Lyme test performs well compared with an FDA-approved MTTT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Lee-Lewandrowski
- Department of Pathology, Division of Clinical Laboratories and Molecular Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, US
| | - Sarah Turbett
- Department of Pathology, Division of Clinical Laboratories and Molecular Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, US
| | - John A Branda
- Department of Pathology, Division of Clinical Laboratories and Molecular Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, US
| | - Kent Lewandrowski
- Department of Pathology, Division of Clinical Laboratories and Molecular Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, US
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Filatov S, Krishnavajhala A, Lopez JE. Autogenous reproduction by Ornithodoros turicata (Ixodida: Argasidae) females and vertical transmission of the tick-borne pathogen Borrelia turicatae (Spirochaetales: Borreliaceae). Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0103223. [PMID: 37877726 PMCID: PMC10686054 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01032-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Previous research has implicated Ornithodoros ticks, including Ornithodoros turicata, as long-term reservoirs of relapsing fever (RF) spirochetes. Considering the tick's long lifespan and their efficiency in maintaining and transferring spirochetes within the population, the infection could persist in a given enzootic focus for decades. However, little is known about the relative importance of horizontal and vertical transmission routes in the persistence and evolution of RF Borrelia. Our observations on the reproductive biology of O. turicata in the absence of vertebrate hosts indicate an additional mechanism by which Borrelia turicatae can be maintained in the environment. This work establishes the foundation for studying O. turicata reproduction and spirochete-vector interactions, which will aid in devising control measures for Ornithodoros ticks and RF spirochetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serhii Filatov
- 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
| | - 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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Flegr J, Ullmann J, Toman J. Parasitic manipulation or side effects? The effects of past Toxoplasma gondii and Borrelia spp. infections on human personality and cognitive performance are not mediated by impaired health. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2023; 70:2023.020. [PMID: 38084079 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2023.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi s. l. and even more the protist Toxoplasma gondii Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908, are known to affect the behaviour and mental health of their animal and human hosts. Both pathogens infect a significant fraction of human population, both are neurotropic and survive in the host's body for a long time. While latent infections were thought to be clinically asymptomatic, recent studies suggest otherwise, revealing adverse effects on human health. It was hypothesised that the specific behavioural effects of these pathogens may be side effects of general health impairments in infected individuals. This hypothesis was tested using about one hour-long survey consisting of questionnaires and performance tests on a cohort of 7,762 members of the internet population. Results showed that individuals infected with T. gondii reported worse physical and mental health, and those infected with Borrelia spp. reported worse physical health than uninfected controls. Furthermore, infected and noninfected individuals differed in several personality traits, including conscientiousness, pathogen disgust, injury disgust, Machiavellianism, narcissism, tribalism, anti-authoritarianism, intelligence, reaction time, and precision. While the majority of behavioural effects associated with Borrelia infection were similar to those associated with Toxoplasma infection, some differences were observed, such as performance in the Stroop test. Path analyses and nonparametric partial Kendall correlation tests showed that these effects were not mediated by impaired health in infected individuals, contradicting the side effects hypothesis.
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Sanderson VP, Miller JC, Bamm VV, Tilak M, Lloyd VK, Singh-Ranger G, Wills MKB. Profiling disease burden and Borrelia seroprevalence in Canadians with complex and chronic illness. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291382. [PMID: 37939060 PMCID: PMC10631674 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease, caused by vector-borne Borrelia bacteria, can present with diverse multi-system symptoms that resemble other conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate disease presentations and Borrelia seroreactivity in individuals experiencing a spectrum of chronic and complex illnesses. We recruited 157 participants from Eastern Canada who reported one or more diagnoses of Lyme disease, neurological, rheumatic, autoimmune, inflammatory, gastrointestinal, or cardiovascular illnesses, or were asymptomatic and presumed healthy. Intake categories were used to classify participants based on their perceived proximity to Lyme disease, distinguishing between those with a disclosed history of Borrelia infection, those with lookalike conditions (e.g. fibromyalgia syndrome), and those with unrelated ailments (e.g. intestinal polyps). Participants completed three questionnaires, the SF-36 v1, SIQR, and HMQ, to capture symptoms and functional burden, and provided blood serum for analysis at an accredited diagnostic lab. Two-tiered IgG and IgM serological assessments (whole cell ELISA and Western blot) were performed in a blinded fashion on all samples. The pattern of symptoms and functional burden were similarly profound in the presumptive Lyme and Lyme-like disease categories. Borrelia seroprevalence across the study cohort was 10% for each of IgG and IgM, and occurred within and beyond the Lyme disease intake category. Western blot positivity in the absence of reactive ELISA was also substantial. Fibromyalgia was the most common individual diagnostic tag disclosed by two-tier IgG-positive participants who did not report a history of Lyme disease. Within the IgG seropositive cohort, the presence of antibodies against the 31 kDa Outer Surface Protein A (OspA) was associated with significantly better health outcomes. Previously, this marker has been linked to treatment-refractory Lyme arthritis. Overall, our findings support prior observations of phenotypic overlap between Lyme and other diseases. Seropositivity associated with non-specific symptoms and functional impairment warrants further mechanistic investigation and therapeutic optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria P. Sanderson
- G. Magnotta Lyme Disease Research Lab, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jennifer C. Miller
- Galaxy Diagnostics, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, Raleigh, United States of America
| | - Vladimir V. Bamm
- G. Magnotta Lyme Disease Research Lab, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Manali Tilak
- G. Magnotta Lyme Disease Research Lab, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vett K. Lloyd
- Department of Biology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Gurpreet Singh-Ranger
- Upper River Valley Hospital, Horizon Health Network, Waterville, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Melanie K. B. Wills
- G. Magnotta Lyme Disease Research Lab, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Margos G, Hofmann M, Casjens S, Dupraz M, Heinzinger S, Hartberger C, Hepner S, Schmeusser M, Sing A, Fingerle V, McCoy KD. Genome diversity of Borrelia garinii in marine transmission cycles does not match host associations but reflects the strains evolutionary history. Infect Genet Evol 2023; 115:105502. [PMID: 37716446 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2023.105502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is a species complex of spirochetal bacteria that occupy different ecological niches which is reflected in their reservoir host- and vector-associations. Borrelia genomes possess numerous linear and circular plasmids. Proteins encoded by plasmid genes play a major role in host- and vector-interaction and are important for Borrelia niche adaptation. However, the plasmid composition and therewith the gene repertoire may vary even in strains of a single species. Borrelia garinii, one of the six human pathogenic species, is common in Europe (vector Ixodes ricinus), Asia (vector Ixodes persulcatus) and in marine birds (vector Ixodes uriae). For the latter, only a single culture isolate (Far04) and its genome were previously available. The genome was rather small containing only one circular and six linear plasmids with a notable absence of cp32 plasmids. To further investigate B. garinii from marine transmission cycles and to explore i) whether the small number of plasmids found in isolate Far04 is a common feature in B. garinii from marine birds and presents an adaptation to this particular niche and ii) whether there may be a correlation between genome type and host species, we initiated in vitro cultures from live I. uriae collected in 2017 and 2018 from marine avian hosts and their nests. Hosts included common guillemots, Atlantic Puffin, razorbill, and kittiwake. We obtained 17 novel isolates of which 10 were sequenced using Illumina technology, one also with Pacific Bioscience technology. The 10 genomes segregated into five different genome types defined by plasmid types (based on PFam32 loci). We show that the genomes of seabird associated B. garinii contain fewer plasmids (6-9) than B. garinii from terrestrial avian species (generally ≥10), potentially suggesting niche adaptation. However, genome type did not match an association with the diverse avian seabird hosts investigated but matched the clonal complex they originated from, perhaps reflecting the isolates evolutionary history. Questions that should be addressed in future studies are (i) how is plasmid diversity related to host- and/or vector adaptation; (ii) do the different seabird species differ in reservoir host competence, and (iii) can the genome types found in seabirds use terrestrial birds as reservoir hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Margos
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - Markus Hofmann
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - Sherwood Casjens
- Pathology Department, School of Medicine, University of Utah, 15 North Medical Drive East Ste. #1100, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
| | - Marlene Dupraz
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier - CNRS - IRD, Centre IRD, Domaine La Valette - 900, rue Jean François BRETON, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Susanne Heinzinger
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - Christine Hartberger
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - Sabrina Hepner
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - Mercy Schmeusser
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - Andreas Sing
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - Volker Fingerle
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - Karen D McCoy
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier - CNRS - IRD, Centre IRD, Domaine La Valette - 900, rue Jean François BRETON, 34090 Montpellier, France.
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Foster E, Maes SA, Holcomb KM, Eisen RJ. Prevalence of five human pathogens in host-seeking Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus by region, state, and county in the contiguous United States generated through national tick surveillance. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102250. [PMID: 37703795 PMCID: PMC10629455 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
The majority of vector-borne disease cases reported in the United States (U.S.) are caused by pathogens spread by the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis. In recent decades, the geographic ranges of the tick and its associated human pathogens have expanded, putting an increasing number of communities at risk for tick-borne infections. In 2018, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiated a national tick surveillance program to monitor changes in the distribution and abundance of ticks and the presence and prevalence of human pathogens in them. We assessed the geographical representativeness of prevalence data submitted to CDC as part of the national tick surveillance effort. We describe county, state, and regional variation in the prevalence of five human pathogens (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.), Borrelia mayonii, Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia microti) in host-seeking I. scapularis and I. pacificus nymphs and adults. Although I. scapularis and I. pacificus are widely distributed in the eastern and western U.S., respectively, pathogen prevalence was estimated predominantly in ticks collected in the Northeast, Ohio Valley, and Upper Midwest regions, where human Lyme disease cases are most commonly reported. Within these regions, we found that state and regional estimates of pathogen prevalence generally reached predictable and stable levels, but variation in prevalence estimates at the sub-state level was considerable. Borrelia burgdorferi s.s. was the most prevalent and widespread pathogen detected. Borrelia miyamotoi and A. phagocytophilum shared a similarly broad geographic range, but were consistently detected at much lower prevalence compared with B. burgdorferi s.s. Babesia microti was detected at similar prevalence to A. phagocytophilum, where both pathogens co-occurred, but was reported over a much more limited geographic range compared with A. phagocytophilum or B. burgdorferi s.s. Borrelia mayonii was identified at very low prevalence with a focal distribution within the Upper Midwest. National assessments of risk for tick-borne diseases need to be improved through collection and testing of ticks in currently under-represented regions, including the West, South, Southeast, and eastern Plains states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Foster
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA.
| | - Sarah A Maes
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Karen M Holcomb
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
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Foor SD, Brangulis K, Shakya AK, Rana VS, Bista S, Kitsou C, Ronzetti M, Alreja AB, Linden SB, Altieri AS, Baljinnyam B, Akopjana I, Nelson DC, Simeonov A, Herzberg O, Caimano MJ, Pal U. A unique borrelial protein facilitates microbial immune evasion. mBio 2023; 14:e0213523. [PMID: 37830812 PMCID: PMC10653885 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02135-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Lyme disease is a major tick-borne infection caused by a bacterial pathogen called Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted by ticks and affects hundreds of thousands of people every year. These bacterial pathogens are distinct from other genera of microbes because of their distinct features and ability to transmit a multi-system infection to a range of vertebrates, including humans. Progress in understanding the infection biology of Lyme disease, and thus advancements towards its prevention, are hindered by an incomplete understanding of the microbiology of B. burgdorferi, partly due to the occurrence of many unique borrelial proteins that are structurally unrelated to proteins of known functions yet are indispensable for pathogen survival. We herein report the use of diverse technologies to examine the structure and function of a unique B. burgdorferi protein, annotated as BB0238-an essential virulence determinant. We show that the protein is structurally organized into two distinct domains, is involved in multiplex protein-protein interactions, and facilitates tick-to-mouse pathogen transmission by aiding microbial evasion of early host cellular immunity. We believe that our findings will further enrich our understanding of the microbiology of B. burgdorferi, potentially impacting the future development of novel prevention strategies against a widespread tick-transmitted infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelby D. Foor
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Kalvis Brangulis
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
- Department of Human Physiology and Biochemistry, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Anil K. Shakya
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Vipin S. Rana
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Sandhya Bista
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Chrysoula Kitsou
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Michael Ronzetti
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Adit B. Alreja
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Sara B. Linden
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Amanda S. Altieri
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Bolormaa Baljinnyam
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Inara Akopjana
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Daniel C. Nelson
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Anton Simeonov
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Osnat Herzberg
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Melissa J. Caimano
- Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | - Utpal Pal
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
- Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, College Park, Maryland, USA
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28
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Nyman D, Nordberg M, Nyberg C, Olausson S, Carlströmer Berthen N, Carlsson SA. Diagnostic probability classification in suspected borreliosis by a novel Borrelia C6-peptide IgG1- subclass antibody test. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1108115. [PMID: 37753485 PMCID: PMC10518385 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1108115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The tick-borne multisystemic infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Lyme borreliosis, or Lyme disease, occurring in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, continues to spread geographically with the expanding tick population. Despite the rising perceived risk of infection in the population, the clinical diagnosis of Borrelia infection is not always obvious and the most important laboratory test, antibody detection, has limited accuracy in diagnosing active disease. According to international guidelines, the primary serology test, which has a high sensitivity-low specificity, should, be verified using a high specificity confirmation test to improve the specificity. However, this enhancement in specificity comes at the cost of lower sensitivity. This two-step procedure is often omitted in everyday clinical practice. An optimal primary test would be one where no secondary tests for confirmation would be necessary. In the present study, the performance of a novel assay for quantitating IgG1-subclass antibodies to Borrelia C6-peptide was compared to a commercial reference assay of total IgG and IgM antibodies to Borrelia C6-peptide in the setting of a high endemic area for borreliosis. A derivation study on a retrospective clinical material was performed to compare the performance parameters and assess the discriminatory properties of the assays, followed by a prospective validation study. The IgG1-antibody assay achieved comparable summary performance parameters to those of the reference assay. The sensitivity was almost 100% while the specificity was about 50%. In a high-endemic setting, characterized by high background seropositivity of about 50% and disease prevalence of approximately 10%, antibody tests are unable to rule-in active Borrelia infection. The rule-out assessment of the methods revealed that of 1000 patients, 7 - 54 with negative results based on the reference method could have an active Borrelia infection. Such uncertainty was not found for the index test and may help improve the risk classification of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dag Nyman
- The Åland Group for Borreliosis Research, Mariehamn, Finland
- Bimelix Laboratory, Mariehamn, Finland
| | - Marika Nordberg
- The Åland Group for Borreliosis Research, Mariehamn, Finland
- Department of Infection, Åland Public Health Care Services, Mariehamn, Finland
| | - Clara Nyberg
- The Åland Group for Borreliosis Research, Mariehamn, Finland
- Department of Infection, Åland Public Health Care Services, Mariehamn, Finland
| | - Susanne Olausson
- The Åland Group for Borreliosis Research, Mariehamn, Finland
- Bimelix Laboratory, Mariehamn, Finland
| | | | - Sten-Anders Carlsson
- The Åland Group for Borreliosis Research, Mariehamn, Finland
- Bimelix Laboratory, Mariehamn, Finland
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Remesar S, Matute R, Díaz P, Martínez-Calabuig N, Prieto A, Díaz-Cao JM, López-Lorenzo G, Fernández G, López C, Panadero R, Díez-Baños P, Morrondo P, García-Dios D. Tick-borne pathogens in ticks from urban and suburban areas of north-western Spain: Importance of Ixodes frontalis harbouring zoonotic pathogens. Med Vet Entomol 2023; 37:499-510. [PMID: 36896712 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
To identify the questing tick populations in urban and suburban areas from the city of Lugo (NW Spain), ticks were collected monthly by flagging. The presence of Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum also was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence analysis. Overall, 342 questing ticks were collected; the tick abundance was higher in suburban (95.9%) than in urban areas (4.1%). Ixodes frontalis was the most abundant (86.5%); 88.5% were larvae, 11.1% nymphs and 0.3% adults. All development stages of I. ricinus (7.3%) and adults of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (5.8%) and Dermacentor reticulatus (0.3%) were found. Rickettsia spp. (31.9%) was more prevalent than Borrelia spp. (2.7%); no ticks were positive to A. phagocytophilum. Six Rickettsia species were identified (R. slovaca, R. monacensis, R. massiliae, R. raoultii, R. sibirica subsp. mongolitimonae and R. aeschielmanii); Candidatus Rickettsia rioja and two novel Rickettsia species also were detected. In addition, Borrelia turdi (1.8%) and B. valaisiana (0.9%) were identified in Ixodes ticks. This is the first report of R. slovaca in R. sanguineus s.l. and of R. monacensis, R. raoultii, R. slovaca, R. sibirica subsp. mongolitimonae and Ca. R. rioja in I. frontalis. Since most of the pathogens detected are zoonotic, their presence in these areas may have implications for public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Remesar
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - R Matute
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - P Díaz
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - N Martínez-Calabuig
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - A Prieto
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - J M Díaz-Cao
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - G López-Lorenzo
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - G Fernández
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - C López
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - R Panadero
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - P Díez-Baños
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - P Morrondo
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - D García-Dios
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
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Konopka JA, Sacks HA, Castañeda PG, Carter CW. Surgical (over) treatment of pediatric Lyme arthritis: a need for faster Borrelia testing. J Pediatr Orthop B 2023; 32:497-503. [PMID: 36445377 DOI: 10.1097/bpb.0000000000001022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Pediatric Lyme arthritis is described but not well-characterized in urban populations. Similarities in clinical features between Lyme and septic arthritis also results in some patients with Lyme arthritis undergoing surgical treatment. The aims of this study are to (1) characterize Lyme arthritis in an urban population and (2) determine what factors predispose patients with Lyme arthritis to undergoing surgery. We performed a retrospective review of children with Lyme arthritis at a single academic institution in New York City from 2016 to 2021. Inclusion criteria were age ≤18 years, involvement of a major joint, and positive Lyme serology. Patients treated with irrigation and debridement were compared to those treated non-surgically using Chi-squared tests with a significance of P < 0.05. A total of 106 children with Lyme arthritis were included. Mean age was 9.5 years; 61.3% were male, and 71.7% were Caucasian. 46.2% lived in regions with an average household income >$100 000; 70.8% had private insurance. Ten patients (9.4%) underwent surgery for suspected septic arthritis. The operative group was more likely to have an elevated heart rate, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein level, erythrocyte sedimentation rate level and synovial cell count ( P < 0.05). Patients were more likely to undergo surgery if they presented to the emergency department than to the clinic ( P = 0.03). The average time for a Lyme test to result was 43.5 h, averaging 8.7 h after the surgical start time. Lyme arthritis occurs commonly in an urban pediatric population. Surgery is performed in ~10% of Lyme arthritis patients. More efficient diagnostic tests may reduce this rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn A Konopka
- Department of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery, New York University Langone Orthopedic Hospital, New York, USA
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Ganbold D, Uudus B, Nyamdavaa N, Chultemsuren Y, Zagd A, Tangad M, Bayarmaa A, Lkunrev R, Baasandagva U, Nyamdorj T, Narankhajid M. Seroprevalence and risk factors of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Rickettsia species infection in humans in Mongolia, 2016-2020. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289274. [PMID: 37552652 PMCID: PMC10409273 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Rickettsia spp. are worldwide causes of tick-borne infections. We aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against different tick-borne diseases (TBDs) and determine risk factors among Mongolians from 2016 to 2020. Blood samples were obtained from voluntary participants with a history of suspected tick bite who visited our hospital, and IgG antibodies against Rickettsia and Borrelia were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The IgG antibody seropositivity rate against Rickettsia was 21.8% (1032/4724), while 3.4% (162/4724) of participants tested positive for serum IgG antibodies against Borrelia by ELISA.Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate risk factors for tick-borne rickettsiosis (TBR) and tick-borne borreliosis (TBB) using IgG serum sample. Age, occupation, and residence were significantly associated with these diseases; however, sex did not show any significant association. Seroprevalence was significantly higher among herders (40.6%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 35.5-45.8; odds ratio [OR] 0.61; P < 0.001) and students (32.8%, 95% CI: 30.2-35.4; OR 0.75; P < 0.001) than among individuals with other occupations. The 25-29 age group had a slightly higher seroprevalence (35.1%, 95% CI: 28.1-42.6; OR 0.61; P < 0.006) than those in other age groups. Province was a stronger predictor of TBR than occupation and age group. In univariate subgroup analysis by age group, occupation, and residence were significantly associated with TBR seroprevalence, whereas age and province were associated with TBB seroprevalence. Thus, risk factors for TBD include residence, occupation, and age group. This study was conducted using samples from all Mongolian provinces and the capital city, and the risk factors and prevalence of Rickettsia and Borreliaare highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dashdavaa Ganbold
- Department of Biology, School of Biomedicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | - Bayarsaikhan Uudus
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Art Science, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | | | - Yeruult Chultemsuren
- Department of Biology, School of Biomedicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | - Amarbayasgalan Zagd
- Department of Biology, School of Biomedicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | - Mungunzaya Tangad
- Department of Biology, School of Biomedicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | - Agarzandan Bayarmaa
- Department of Biology, School of Biomedicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | | | | | | | - Myadagsuren Narankhajid
- Department of Biology, School of Biomedicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
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Sawczyn-Domańska A, Zwoliński J, Kloc A, Wójcik-Fatla A. Prevalence of Borrelia, Neoehrlichia mikurensis and Babesia in ticks collected from vegetation in eastern Poland. Exp Appl Acarol 2023; 90:409-428. [PMID: 37389691 PMCID: PMC10406691 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00818-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
In Poland, tick-borne diseases constitute the majority of diseases related to exposure to biological agents with a predominance of Lyme borreliosis; therefore, research on ticks as a reservoir of various pathogens remains crucial in the epidemiology of human diseases after tick bites. This study aimed to identify the occurrence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Borrelia miyamotoi, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, and Babesia spp. in ticks collected from vegetation in eastern Poland. Additionally, the prevalence of co-infections in the adult Ixodes ricinus ticks was determined. Among I. ricinus ticks the predominantly detected pathogen was B. burgdorferi s.l. (23%) with B. burgdorferi sensu stricto as the most frequently identified species, followed by B. garinii. In 2013, the double or triple infections of B. burgdorferi s.s., B. afzelii, and B. garinii species did not exceed 9% in adult ticks, whereas in 2016, the prevalence of mixed infections reached 29%. The prevalence of N. mikurensis and B. miyamotoi in I. ricinus was determined at the same level of 2.8%. Four Babesia species were identified in the examined I. ricinus population: B. microti (1.5%), B. venatorum (1.2%), B. divergens (0.2%), and B. capreoli (0.1%). Co-infections were detected in 10.1% of all infected ticks with the highest prevalence of co-infections with B. burgdorferi s.l. and Babesia species. The changes in the prevalence and the distribution of particular pathogens within tick populations indicate the need for monitoring the current situation related to tick-borne pathogens from the aspect of risk to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Sawczyn-Domańska
- Department of Health Biohazards and Parasitology, Institute of Rural Health, Jaczewskiego 2, 20-090, Lublin, Poland.
| | - Jacek Zwoliński
- Department of Health Biohazards and Parasitology, Institute of Rural Health, Jaczewskiego 2, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
| | - Anna Kloc
- Department of Health Biohazards and Parasitology, Institute of Rural Health, Jaczewskiego 2, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
| | - Angelina Wójcik-Fatla
- Department of Health Biohazards and Parasitology, Institute of Rural Health, Jaczewskiego 2, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
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Smíšková D, Džupová O, Moravcová L, Pícha D. Cerebrospinal fluid CXCL13 in non- borrelial central nervous system infections: contribution of CXCL13 to the differential diagnosis. Infect Dis (Lond) 2023; 55:551-558. [PMID: 37317698 DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2023.2222178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The chemokine CXCL13 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is used as a diagnostic marker of Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB). However, the elevated levels in other non-borrelial CNS infections and the lack of a clearly defined cut-off value are limitations of the test. METHODS In our prospective study, we evaluated CSF CXCL13 levels in patients with LNB (47 patients), tick-borne encephalitis (TBE; 46 patients), enteroviral CNS infections (EV; 45 patients), herpetic CNS infections (HV; 23 patients), neurosyphilis (NS; 11 patients) and controls (46 patients). The correlation of CXCL13 with CSF mononuclears was determined in all groups. RESULTS Median CXCL13 was significantly higher in LNB group; however, the cut-off value of 162 pg/mL was also exceeded in 22% of TBE patients, 2% EV patients, 44% HV patients and in 55% patients with NS. Sensitivity and specificity were 0.83 and 0.78, respectively, with a Youden index of 0.62. CXCL13 was significantly correlated with CSF mononuclears (p = .0024), but the type of infectious agent had a greater influence on CXCL13 levels. CONCLUSIONS Increased CXCL13 levels are useful for LNB diagnostics, but other non-purulent CNS infections causes should be considered if intrathecal synthesis of borrelia specific antibodies is not confirmed or clinical manifestations are atypical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dita Smíšková
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, University Hospital Bulovka, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Olga Džupová
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, University Hospital Bulovka, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Moravcová
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, University Hospital Bulovka, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Dušan Pícha
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, University Hospital Bulovka, Prague, Czech Republic
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Roy S, Booth CE, Powell-Pierce AD, Schulz AM, Skare JT, Garcia BL. Conformational dynamics of complement protease C1r inhibitor proteins from Lyme disease- and relapsing fever-causing spirochetes. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:104972. [PMID: 37380082 PMCID: PMC10413161 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Borrelial pathogens are vector-borne etiological agents known to cause Lyme disease, relapsing fever, and Borrelia miyamotoi disease. These spirochetes each encode several surface-localized lipoproteins that bind components of the human complement system to evade host immunity. One borrelial lipoprotein, BBK32, protects the Lyme disease spirochete from complement-mediated attack via an alpha helical C-terminal domain that interacts directly with the initiating protease of the classical complement pathway, C1r. In addition, the B. miyamotoi BBK32 orthologs FbpA and FbpB also inhibit C1r, albeit via distinct recognition mechanisms. The C1r-inhibitory activities of a third ortholog termed FbpC, which is found exclusively in relapsing fever-causing spirochetes, remains unknown. Here, we report the crystal structure of the C-terminal domain of Borrelia hermsii FbpC to a limiting resolution of 1.5 Å. We used surface plasmon resonance and assays of complement function to demonstrate that FbpC retains potent BBK32-like anticomplement activities. Based on the structure of FbpC, we hypothesized that conformational dynamics of the complement inhibitory domains of borrelial C1r inhibitors may differ. To test this, we utilized the crystal structures of the C-terminal domains of BBK32, FbpA, FbpB, and FbpC to carry out molecular dynamics simulations, which revealed borrelial C1r inhibitors adopt energetically favored open and closed states defined by two functionally critical regions. Taken together, these results advance our understanding of how protein dynamics contribute to the function of bacterial immune evasion proteins and reveal a surprising plasticity in the structures of borrelial C1r inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Roy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Charles E Booth
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Alexandra D Powell-Pierce
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, School of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Anna M Schulz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jon T Skare
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, School of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, Texas, USA.
| | - Brandon L Garcia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
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Bhadra S, Esteve-Gasent MD, Ellington AD. Analysis of macerated ticks using Boolean logic gating colorimetric isothermal nucleic acid assays for Lyme Borrelia and Ixodes scapularis ticks. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11439. [PMID: 37454160 PMCID: PMC10349842 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38452-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease, one of the most common tickborne diseases, has been rapidly spreading in parallel with the expansion of the range of its tick vector. Better tick surveillance efforts are needed to accurately estimate disease risk and to guide public health and clinical management. We have developed two multiplex loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) reactions coupled with oligonucleotide strand displacement (OSD) probes to identify the tick host, Ixodes scapularis, and the Lyme disease pathogen, Borrelia burgdorferi, they carry. In each multiplex LAMP-OSD assay the co-presence of two target sequences is computed at the DNA level by linking the two corresponding amplicons and detecting the co-product on colorimetric lateral flow dipsticks. In tests with synthetic DNA, the co-presence of as few as four copies of input DNA could be detected, without producing spurious signals. Most importantly, though, the LAMP-OSD assay is amenable to being carried out directly with macerated tick samples, without any sample preparation. In such field conditions, assays performed robustly and demonstrated 97-100% sensitivity and 100% specificity with both field-collected and lab-raised artificially infected ticks. Such easy-to-use, arthropod and pathogen-specific assays would be well suited to field and near patient use without relying on complex instrumentation or infrastructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanchita Bhadra
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Maria D Esteve-Gasent
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Andrew D Ellington
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
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Foley N, O’Connor C, Falco RC, Vinci V, Oliver J, Haight J, Sporn LA, Harrington L, Mader E, Wroblewski D, Backenson PB, Prusinski MA. Spatiotemporal distribution of Borrelia miyamotoi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae) and coinfection with other tick-borne pathogens in host-seeking Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) from New York State, USA. J Med Entomol 2023; 60:808-821. [PMID: 37156099 PMCID: PMC10653143 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis Say, Acari: Ixodidae) were collected from 432 locations across New York State (NYS) during the summer and autumn of 2015-2020 to determine the prevalence and geographic distribution of Borrelia miyamotoi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae) and coinfections with other tick-borne pathogens. A total of 48,386 I. scapularis were individually analyzed using a multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction assay to simultaneously detect the presence of Bo. miyamotoi, Borrelia burgdorferi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae), and Babesia microti (Piroplasmida: Babesiidae). Overall prevalence of Bo. miyamotoi in host-seeking nymphs and adults varied geographically and temporally at the regional level. The rate of polymicrobial infection in Bo. miyamotoi-infected ticks varied by developmental stage, with certain co-infections occurring more frequently than expected by chance. Entomological risk of exposure to Bo. miyamotoi-infected nymphal and adult ticks (entomological risk index [ERI]) across NYS regions in relation to human cases of Bo. miyamotoi disease identified during the study period demonstrated spatial and temporal variation. The relationship between select environmental factors and Bo. miyamotoi ERI was explored using generalized linear mixed effects models, resulting in different factors significantly impacting ERI for nymphs and adult ticks. These results can inform estimates of Bo. miyamotoi disease risk and further our understanding of Bo. miyamotoi ecological dynamics in regions where this pathogen is known to occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Foley
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, 3138/2130 Comstock Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Collin O’Connor
- New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, Western New York Regional Office, 584 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202, USA
- Department of Geography, University at Buffalo, Suite 105, Buffalo, NY, 14261, USA
| | - Richard C Falco
- New York State Department of Health, Fordham University, Vector Ecology Laboratory, Louis Calder Center, 53 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - Vanessa Vinci
- New York State Department of Health, Fordham University, Vector Ecology Laboratory, Louis Calder Center, 53 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - JoAnne Oliver
- New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, Central New York Regional Office, 217 South Salina Street, 3rd Floor, Syracuse, NY 13202, USA
| | - Jamie Haight
- New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, Chautauqua County DPF Offices, 454 North Work Street, Room B-05, Falconer, NY 14733, USA
| | - Lee Ann Sporn
- Paul Smith’s College, State Routes 30 and 86, Paul Smiths, NY 12970, USA
| | - Laura Harrington
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, 3138/2130 Comstock Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Emily Mader
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, 3138/2130 Comstock Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Danielle Wroblewski
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Bacteriology Laboratory, David Axelrod Institute, 120 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - P Bryon Backenson
- New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, Communicable Disease Investigations and Vector Surveillance Unit, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237, USA
| | - Melissa A Prusinski
- New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, Vector Ecology Laboratory, Wadsworth Center Biggs Laboratory C-456, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237, USA
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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: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Susnjar J, Cerar Kisek T, Strasek Smrdel K, Ruzic-Sabljic E, Adam K, Ivovic V. Detection, identification and genotyping of Borrelia spp. in ticks of Coastal-Karst and Littoral-Inner Carniola regions in Slovenia. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2023; 70. [PMID: 37042198 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2023.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
The density and spread of tick vector species have increased throughout Europe in the last 30 years, leading to an increase of Lyme borreliosis cases, including in Slovenia. The aim of this study was to isolate Borrelia strains and determine the prevalence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato and B. miyamotoi in adults of Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus) collected in 2019 in the two regions of the country (Coastal-Karst and Littoral-Inner Carniola) by cultivation and PCR. We isolated B. burgdorferi s.l. by culture method in 28/559 (5%) ticks from both regions. Culture-negative samples (531/559, i.e., 95%) were additionally tested by real-time PCR. In 155/531 (29.2%) PCR-positive samples, a fragment of flaB or glpQ was amplified and further sequenced to identify species of the Borrelia. Using both methods, cultivation and PCR, Borrelia spp. prevalence was 32.7% in the Coastal-Karst region and 33.0% in the Littoral-Inner Carniola region. Genotyping of the Borrelia spp. isolates revealed that 17/28 (60%) were B. garinii subtype Mlg2. Of all tick samples tested for B. miyamotoi 8/398 (2%) were PCR positive. Based on previous studies in these regions, we had expected more ticks to be infected with B. afzelii, but genotyping revealed that B. garinii was the most abundant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Susnjar
- Department of Biodiversity, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska,Koper, Slovenia
| | - Tjasa Cerar Kisek
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Katja Strasek Smrdel
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Eva Ruzic-Sabljic
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Katja Adam
- Department of Biodiversity, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska,Koper, Slovenia
| | - Vladimir Ivovic
- Department of Biodiversity, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska,Koper, Slovenia
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Palleis C, Forbrig R, Lehner L, Quach S, Albert NL, Brendel M, Schöberl F, Straube A. Lyme neuroborreliosis: An unusual case with extensive (peri)vasculitis of the middle cerebral artery. Eur J Neurol 2023; 30:785-787. [PMID: 36636924 DOI: 10.1111/ene.15633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Lyme disease is a tick-borne infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu latu. Neuroborreliosis is reported in approximately 10% of patients with Lyme disease. We report a patient with central nervous system (CNS) large vessel vasculitis, ischemic stroke, and tumefactive contrast-enhancing brain lesions, an unusual complication of neuroborreliosis. A 56-year-old man presented with headache and disorientation for 1 month. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed basal meningitis with rapidly progressing frontotemporoinsular edema and (peri)vasculitis. Transcranial ultrasound confirmed stenosed medial cerebral arteries. [18 F]GE-180 microglia positron emission tomography (PET) showed frontotemporoinsular signal more pronounced on the right. [18 F]FET amino acid PET demonstrated low tracer uptake, suggesting an inflammatory process. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed lymphomonocytosis (243/μl), intrathecal anti-Borrelia IgM (CSF/serum index = 15.65, normal < 1.5) and anti-Borrelia IgG (CSF/serum index = 6.5, normal < 1.5), and elevated CXCL13 (29.2 pg/ml, normal < 10 pg/ml). Main differential diagnoses of neurotuberculosis and perivascular CNS lymphoma were ruled out by biopsy and Quantiferon enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Ceftriaxone (28 days), cortisone, and nimodipine (3 months) led to full recovery. Neuroborreliosis is an important differential diagnosis in patients with CNS large vessel vasculitis and tumefactive contrast-enhancing brain lesions, mimicking perivascular CNS lymphoma or neurotuberculosis as main neuroradiological differential diagnoses. Vasculopathy and cerebrovascular events are rare in neuroborreliosis but should be considered, especially in endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Palleis
- Department of Neurology, Campus Grosshadern, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology, Munich, Germany
| | - Robert Forbrig
- Institute of Neuroradiology, Campus Grosshadern, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Louisa Lehner
- Department of Neurology, Campus Grosshadern, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefanie Quach
- Department of Neurosurgery, Campus Grosshadern, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Nathalie L Albert
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Campus Grosshadern, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Brendel
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology, Munich, Germany
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Campus Grosshadern, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Florian Schöberl
- Department of Neurology, Campus Grosshadern, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Straube
- Department of Neurology, Campus Grosshadern, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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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: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Takacs CN, Nakajima Y, Haber JE, Jacobs-Wagner C. Cas9-mediated endogenous plasmid loss in Borrelia burgdorferi. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0278151. [PMID: 36441794 PMCID: PMC9704580 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease, has the most segmented genome among known bacteria. In addition to a linear chromosome, the B. burgdorferi genome contains over 20 linear and circular endogenous plasmids. While many of these plasmids are dispensable under in vitro culture conditions, they are maintained during the natural life cycle of the pathogen. Plasmid-encoded functions are required for colonization of the tick vector, transmission to the vertebrate host, and evasion of host immune defenses. Different Borrelia strains can vary substantially in the type of plasmids they carry. The gene composition within the same type of plasmid can also differ from strain to strain, impeding the inference of plasmid function from one strain to another. To facilitate the investigation of the role of specific B. burgdorferi plasmids, we developed a Cas9-based approach that targets a plasmid for removal. As a proof-of-principle, we showed that targeting wild-type Cas9 to several loci on the endogenous plasmids lp25 or lp28-1 of the B. burgdorferi type strain B31 results in sgRNA-specific plasmid loss even when homologous sequences (i.e., potential sequence donors for DNA recombination) are present nearby. Cas9 nickase versions, Cas9D10A or Cas9H840A, also cause plasmid loss, though not as robustly. Thus, sgRNA-directed Cas9 DNA cleavage provides a highly efficient way to eliminate B. burgdorferi endogenous plasmids that are non-essential in axenic culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constantin N. Takacs
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, United States of America
- Sarafan ChEM-H Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, United States of America
| | - Yuko Nakajima
- Department of Biology and Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences Research Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - James E. Haber
- Department of Biology and Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences Research Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Christine Jacobs-Wagner
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, United States of America
- Sarafan ChEM-H Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Nilsson K, Skoog E, Edvinsson M, Mårtensson A, Olsen B. Protein biomarker profiles in serum and CSF in 158 patients with PTLDS or persistent symptoms after presumed tick-bite exposure compared to those in patients with confirmed acute neuroborreliosis. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0276407. [PMID: 36327322 PMCID: PMC9632922 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current diagnostics for patients with lingering symptoms categorized as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) have their limitations and may be difficult to interpret. The aim of this exploratory study was to evaluate the feasibility of protein biomarker profiling as a diagnostic platform for this category of patients and to compare these results with similarly obtained results from a group of patients with acute neuroborreliosis. METHODS AND FINDINGS Two groups of patient cohorts (Cohort 1 and 2) were analyzed for biomarkers in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); the results were used for group-level comparison. Cohort 1 comprised 158 adult patients selected from 224 previously diagnosed patients, who between October 2015 and December 2018, after referral, were enrolled and structurally investigated based on defined inclusion criteria. They displayed similar lingering symptoms, with a duration of at least 6 months, after presumed previous tick-borne infection (TBI) and are fully described in a previously published study originating from the Center for Vector-borne Infections (CVI), Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden. Cohort 2, comprised 30 patients diagnosed at Uppsala University Hospital between 2016 and 2019 with laboratory-confirmed acute neuroborreliosis. Their proteomic results, based on serum and CSF analyses, were compared with the 158 patients in Cohort 1. The expression and the concentration of potential biomarkers in each patient's serum and CSF samples were measured based on two multiplex protein panels enabling simultaneous analysis of 92 inflammatory and neurology biomarkers. The PTLDS patient subgroup showed no nominally significant proteins compared to the other CVI patients in Cohort 1. However, CVI patients with signs of inflammation, which were evenly distributed in Cohort 1, showed 16 significantly (p <0.05) different proteins in both CSF and serum, but no association was seen with laboratory-confirmed exposure to Borrelia spp or other TBIs. When comparing the two cohorts, different protein profiles were observed, with 125/148 significantly different proteins in CSF and 93/174 in serum, in patients with laboratory confirmed acute neuroborreliosis, of which 6 in CSF and 6 in serum were significant at the p <0.001 level. CONCLUSIONS In this first comprehensive inflammatory and neurological biomarker profile study no differences in biomarker profiles were detected between patients with PTLDS and patients with similar persisting symptoms but who did not meet the PTLDS criteria, regardless of whether laboratory verified previous exposure to Borrelia or other TBI's were present. However, the expressed markers differed from those found in patients with confirmed acute neuroborreliosis, which does not support the view that PTLDS reflects an ongoing Borrelia infection. Further studies are needed to understand and assess the usefulness of biosignatures of patients with PTLDS before they can be applied in a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Nilsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Clinical Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Elisabet Skoog
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marie Edvinsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Andreas Mårtensson
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, International Maternal and Child Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Björn Olsen
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Medical Sciences, Zoonosis Science Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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46
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Curtis MW, Fierros CH, Hahn BL, Surdel MC, Kessler J, Anderson PN, Vandewalle-Capo M, Bonde M, Zhu J, Bergström S, Coburn J. Identification of amino acid domains of Borrelia burgdorferi P66 that are surface exposed and important for localization, oligomerization, and porin function of the protein. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:991689. [PMID: 36211976 PMCID: PMC9539438 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.991689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
P66, a bifunctional integral outer membrane protein, is necessary for Borrelia burgdorferi to establish initial infection and to disseminate in mice. The integrin binding function of P66 facilitates extravasation and dissemination, but the role of its porin function during murine infection has not been investigated. A limitation to studying P66 porin function during mammalian infection has been the lack of structural information for P66. In this study, we experimentally characterized specific domains of P66 with regard to structure and function. First, we aligned the amino acid sequences of P66 from Lyme disease-causing Borrelia and relapsing fever-causing Borrelia to identify conserved and unique domains between these disease-causing clades. Then, we examined whether specific domains of P66 are exposed on the surface of the bacteria by introducing c-Myc epitope tags into each domain of interest. The c-Myc epitope tag inserted C-terminally to E33 (highly conserved domain), to T187 (integrin binding region domain and a non-conserved domain), and to E334 (non-conserved domain) were all detected on the surface of Borrelia burgdorferi. The c-Myc epitope tag inserted C-terminally to E33 and D303 in conserved domains disrupted P66 oligomerization and porin function. In a murine model of infection, the E33 and D303 mutants exhibited decreased infectivity and dissemination. Taken together, these results suggest the importance of these conserved domains, and potentially P66 porin function, in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael W. Curtis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Christa H. Fierros
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Beth L. Hahn
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Matthew C. Surdel
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Julie Kessler
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Phillip N. Anderson
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Marine Vandewalle-Capo
- Umeå Centre for Microbial Research, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Mari Bonde
- Umeå Centre for Microbial Research, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Jieqing Zhu
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Sven Bergström
- Umeå Centre for Microbial Research, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Jenifer Coburn
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
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47
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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48
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Medlock JM, Vaux AGC, Gandy S, Cull B, McGinley L, Gillingham E, Catton M, Pullan ST, Hansford KM. Spatial and temporal heterogeneity of the density of Borrelia burgdorferi-infected Ixodes ricinus ticks across a landscape: A 5-year study in southern England. Med Vet Entomol 2022; 36:356-370. [PMID: 35521893 PMCID: PMC9545817 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The density of Borrelia burgdorferi-infected Ixodes ricinus nymphs (DIN) was investigated during 2013-2017 across a Lyme disease-endemic landscape in southern England. The density of nymphs (DON), nymph infection prevalence (NIP), and DIN varied across five different natural habitats, with the highest DIN in woodland edge and high biodiversity woodlands. DIN was significantly lower in scrub grassland compared to the woodland edge, with low DON and no evidence of infection in ticks in non-scrub grassland. Over the 5 years, DON, NIP and DIN were comparable within habitats, except in 2014, with NIP varying three-fold and DIN significantly lower compared to 2015-2017. Borrelia garinii was most common, with bird-associated Borrelia (B. garinii/valaisiana) accounting for ~70% of all typed sequences. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto was more common than B. afzelii. Borrelia afzelii was more common in scrub grassland than woodland and absent in some years. The possible impact of scrub on grazed grassland, management of ecotonal woodland margins with public access, and the possible role of birds/gamebirds impacting NIP are discussed. Mean NIP was 7.6%, highlighting the potential risk posed by B. burgdorferi in this endemic area. There is a need for continued research to understand its complex ecology and identify strategies for minimizing risk to public health, through habitat/game management and public awareness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolyon M. Medlock
- Medical Entomology & Zoonoses Ecology GroupUK Health Security AgencySalisburyWiltshireUK
| | - Alexander G. C. Vaux
- Medical Entomology & Zoonoses Ecology GroupUK Health Security AgencySalisburyWiltshireUK
| | - Sara Gandy
- Medical Entomology & Zoonoses Ecology GroupUK Health Security AgencySalisburyWiltshireUK
| | - Benjamin Cull
- Medical Entomology & Zoonoses Ecology GroupUK Health Security AgencySalisburyWiltshireUK
| | - Liz McGinley
- Medical Entomology & Zoonoses Ecology GroupUK Health Security AgencySalisburyWiltshireUK
| | - Emma Gillingham
- Medical Entomology & Zoonoses Ecology GroupUK Health Security AgencySalisburyWiltshireUK
| | - Matthew Catton
- Medical Entomology & Zoonoses Ecology GroupUK Health Security AgencySalisburyWiltshireUK
| | - Steven T. Pullan
- Diagnostic & Genomic TechnologiesUK Health Security AgencySalisburyWiltshireUK
| | - Kayleigh M. Hansford
- Medical Entomology & Zoonoses Ecology GroupUK Health Security AgencySalisburyWiltshireUK
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49
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Lynn GE, Breuner NE, Hojgaard A, Oliver J, Eisen L, Eisen RJ. A comparison of horizontal and transovarial transmission efficiency of Borrelia miyamotoi by Ixodes scapularis. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:102003. [PMID: 35858517 PMCID: PMC10880489 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi is a relapsing fever spirochete carried by Ixodes spp. ticks throughout the northern hemisphere. The pathogen is acquired either transovarially (vertically) or horizontally through blood-feeding and passed transtadially across life stages. Despite these complementary modes of transmission, infection prevalence of ticks with B. miyamotoi is typically low (<5%) in natural settings and the relative contributions of the two transmission modes have not been studied extensively. Horizontal transmission of B. miyamotoi (strain CT13-2396 or wild type strain) was initiated using infected Ixodes scapularis larvae or nymphs to expose rodents, which included both the immunocompetent CD-1 laboratory mouse (Mus musculus) and a natural reservoir host, the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus. leucopus), to simulate natural enzootic transmission. Transovarial transmission was evaluated using I. scapularis exposed to B. miyamotoi as either larvae or nymphs feeding on immunocompromised SCID mice (M. musculus) and subsequently fed as females on New Zealand white rabbits. Larvae from infected females were qPCR-tested individually to assess transovarial transmission rates. Tissue tropism of B. miyamotoi in infected ticks was demonstrated using in situ hybridization. Between 1 and 12% of ticks were positive (post-molt) for B. miyamotoi after feeding on groups of CD-1 mice or P. leucopus with evidence of infection, indicating that horizontal transmission was inefficient, regardless of whether infected larvae or nymphs were used to challenge the mice. Transovarial transmission occurred in 7 of 10 egg clutches from infected females. Filial infection prevalence in larvae ranged from 3 to 100% (median 71%). Both larval infection prevalence and spirochete load were highly correlated with maternal spirochete load. Spirochetes were disseminated throughout the tissues of all three stages of unfed ticks, including the salivary glands and female ovarian tissue. The results indicate that while multiple transmission routes contribute to enzootic maintenance of B. miyamotoi, transovarial transmission is likely to be the primary source of infected ticks and therefore risk assessment and tick control strategies should target adult female ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey E Lynn
- 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, United States; AgriLife Texas A&M University, 1619 Garner Field Road, Uvalde, TX 78801, United States.
| | - Nicole E Breuner
- 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, United States; Current address: College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, 160 SW 26th St. Corvallis, OR 97331, United States
| | - 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, United States
| | - Jonathan Oliver
- School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Lars 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, United States
| | - 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, United States
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50
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Combs M, Marcinkiewicz AL, Dupuis AP, Davis AD, Lederman P, Nowak TA, Stout JL, Strle K, Fingerle V, Margos G, Ciota AT, Diuk-Wasser MA, Kolokotronis SO, Lin YP. Phylogenomic Diversity Elucidates Mechanistic Insights into Lyme Borreliae-Host Association. mSystems 2022; 7:e0048822. [PMID: 35938719 PMCID: PMC9426539 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00488-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Host association-the selective adaptation of pathogens to specific host species-evolves through constant interactions between host and pathogens, leaving a lot yet to be discovered on immunological mechanisms and genomic determinants. The causative agents of Lyme disease (LD) are spirochete bacteria composed of multiple species of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, including B. burgdorferi (Bb), the main LD pathogen in North America-a useful model for the study of mechanisms underlying host-pathogen association. Host adaptation requires pathogens' ability to evade host immune responses, such as complement, the first-line innate immune defense mechanism. We tested the hypothesis that different host-adapted phenotypes among Bb strains are linked to polymorphic loci that confer complement evasion traits in a host-specific manner. We first examined the survivability of 20 Bb strains in sera in vitro and/or bloodstream and tissues in vivo from rodent and avian LD models. Three groups of complement-dependent host-association phenotypes emerged. We analyzed complement-evasion genes, identified a priori among all strains and sequenced and compared genomes for individual strains representing each phenotype. The evolutionary history of ospC loci is correlated with host-specific complement-evasion phenotypes, while comparative genomics suggests that several gene families and loci are potentially involved in host association. This multidisciplinary work provides novel insights into the functional evolution of host-adapted phenotypes, building a foundation for further investigation of the immunological and genomic determinants of host association. IMPORTANCE Host association is the phenotype that is commonly found in many pathogens that preferential survive in particular hosts. The Lyme disease (LD)-causing agent, B. burgdorferi (Bb), is an ideal model to study host association, as Bb is mainly maintained in nature through rodent and avian hosts. A widespread yet untested concept posits that host association in Bb strains is linked to Bb functional genetic variation conferring evasion to complement, an innate defense mechanism in vertebrate sera. Here, we tested this concept by grouping 20 Bb strains into three complement-dependent host-association phenotypes based on their survivability in sera and/or bloodstream and distal tissues in rodent and avian LD models. Phylogenomic analysis of these strains further correlated several gene families and loci, including ospC, with host-specific complement-evasion phenotypes. Such multifaceted studies thus pave the road to further identify the determinants of host association, providing mechanistic insights into host-pathogen interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Combs
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Institute for Genomics in Health, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, USA
| | - Ashley L. Marcinkiewicz
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Alan P. Dupuis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
| | - April D. Davis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Patricia Lederman
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Tristan A. Nowak
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, SUNY Albany, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Jessica L. Stout
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Klemen Strle
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, SUNY Albany, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Volker Fingerle
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Gabriele Margos
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Alexander T. Ciota
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, SUNY Albany, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Maria A. Diuk-Wasser
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sergios-Orestis Kolokotronis
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Institute for Genomics in Health, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Medicine, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, USA
| | - Yi-Pin Lin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, SUNY Albany, Albany, New York, USA
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