Detection of a Borrelia sp. From Ixodes granulatus Ticks Collected From Rodents in Malaysia

Abstract

The Borrelia genus consists of spirochete bacteria known to cause Lyme disease (LD) and relapsing fever in humans. Borrelia pathogens are commonly transmitted via arthropod vectors such as ticks, mites, or lice. Here, we report the molecular screening of LD group Borrelia sp. from ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) collected from rodents trapped in recreational forests and a semiurban residential area in the Selangor state in Malaysia. Of 156 adult ticks surveyed, 72 ticks were determined as positive for Borrelia sp. by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All Borrelia PCR-positive ticks belonged to the Ixodes granulatus Supino species. Borrelia sp. was not detected in other tick species examined, including Dermacentor sp. and Amblyomma sp. ticks. Thirteen Borrelia PCR-positive tick samples were selected for further sequence analyses. Phylogenetic analyses of partial flaB gene sequences revealed that the Borrelia sp. were closely related to the LD group borreliae, Borrelia yangtzensis; a novel Borrelia genospecies reported in East Asian countries including Japan, Taiwan, and China. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Borrelia sp. related to Borrelia yangtzensis detected in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. The zoonotic potential of the Borrelia sp. reported here merits further investigation, as it may explain the previously reported serological evidence for borrelial infections in Malaysia.

Geographical Distribution of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Ticks Collected from Wild Rodents in the Republic of Korea

“…In this study, we performed the molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of B. burgdorferi s. l. in engorged ticks from wild rodents in nine regions of the ROK. Nested PCR revealed an overall Borrelia infection rate of 33.6% among the 738 ticks analyzed, similar to the high prevalence rates found in ticks feeding on wild rodents in Malaysia (46.1%) and Taiwan (47.1%) [23,24]. However, previous studies from the ROK have detected very low rates of B. burgdorferi s. l. in ticks feeding on wild animals such as dogs (0.2%, n = 562 ticks) [20], wild water deer (2.1%, n = 48 ticks) [19], migratory birds (3.7%, four positive pools of 108 tested pools among 212 ticks) [18], and wild rodents in northern Gyeonggi near the demilitarized zone (1.0%, n = 1,618 ticks including 933 questing ticks) [25].…”

Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato and Relapsing Fever Borrelia in Feeding Ixodes Ticks and Rodents in Sarawak, Malaysia: New Geographical Records of Borrelia yangtzensis and Borrelia miyamotoi

“…Recently, a Borrelia sp. closely related to B. yangtzensis was detected in Peninsular Malaysia from I. granulatus collected from different rodent species [ 30 ]. Takhampunya et al [ 40 ] also identified B. yangtzensis from one rodent and two tick pools of Ixodes spp.…”

“…were conducted in Peninsular Malaysia, where Borrelia spp., belonging to the RFB group, were detected in the Haemaphysalis hystricis ticks collected from wild boar carcasses [ 29 ]. Additionally, Borrelia spp., closely related to B. yangtzensis (a member of Bbsl), were reported from Ixodes granulatus collected from rodents [ 30 ]. Moreover, antibodies against LD were detected from both the urban and indigenous people communities; this provided the serological evidence of borrelial infection in humans [ 31 , 32 ].…”

Molecular Identification of Selected Tick-Borne Protozoan and Bacterial Pathogens in Thoroughbred Racehorses in Cavite, Philippines

“…In humans, Lyme borreliosis is widespread in the northern hemisphere countries and is an epidemic [3,17,18]. Various genospecies of Bbsl have been detected in different tick species, animals, and humans in several East and Southeast Asian countries such as Japan [19], China [19], Taiwan [19], Thailand [20,21], and Malaysia [22,23].…”