Prevalence and diversity of Borrelia species in ticks that have bitten humans in Sweden

J Clin Microbiol. 2010 Nov;48(11):4169-76. doi: 10.1128/JCM.01061-10. Epub 2010 Sep 15.

Abstract

Members of the genus Borrelia are among the most common infectious agents causing tick-borne disease in humans worldwide. Here, we developed a Light Upon eXtension (LUX) real-time PCR assay that can detect and quantify Borrelia species in ticks that have fed on humans, and we applied the assay to 399 such ticks. Borrelia PCR-positive ticks were identified to species level by sequencing the products of conventional PCR performed using Borrelia group-specific primers. There was a 19% prevalence of Borrelia spp. in the detached ticks, and the number of spirochetes per Borrelia PCR-positive tick ranged from 2.0 × 10(2) to 4.9 × 10(5), with a median of 7.8 × 10(3) spirochetes. Adult ticks had a significantly larger number of spirochetes, with a median of 8.4 × 10(3) compared to the median of nymphs of 4.4 × 10(3). [corrected] Adult ticks also exhibited a higher prevalence of Borrelia (33%) than nymphs (14%). Among the identified species, Borrelia afzelii was found to predominate (61%) and was followed by B. garinii (23%), B. valaisiana (13%), B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (1%), B. lusitaniae (1%), and B. miyamotoi-like (1%). Also, 3% of the ticks were coinfected with multiple strains of B. afzelii. Notably, this is the first report of B. lusitaniae being detected in ticks in Sweden. Our LUX real-time PCR assay proved to be more sensitive than a corresponding TaqMan assay. In conclusion, the novel LUX real-time PCR method is a rapid and sensitive tool for detection and quantification of Borrelia spp. in ticks.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Load
  • Bacteriological Techniques / methods*
  • Borrelia / classification*
  • Borrelia / genetics
  • Borrelia / isolation & purification*
  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA / genetics
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Prevalence
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sweden
  • Ticks / genetics
  • Ticks / microbiology*

Substances

  • DNA

Associated data

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