First record of Borrelia burgdorferi B31 strain in Dermacentor nitens ticks in the northern region of Parana (Brazil)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of DNA of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) in ticks that feed on horses used for animal traction in rural Jataizinho, Parana, Brazil. Between February and June 2008, a total of 224 ticks was collected of which 75% were identified as Dermacentor nitens and 25% as Amblyomma cajenense. To amplify B. burgdorferi s.l. DNA, the intergenic space region (ISR) between the 5S (rrf) 23S (rrl) rRNA genes was used as targets for nested-PCR. Two ticks of the D. nitens species were positive for B. burgdorferi s.l. Both species showed a fragment of 184 bp, but the sequencing revealed 99.9% homology with the B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.) strain B31. These results showed, for the first time, the presence of spirochete DNA infecting ticks that parasitize horses used for animal traction, in the rural municipality mentioned. In conclusion, this study opens up promising prospects for determining the infection rate of B. burgdorferi s.s. genospecies or other species in the equine population, as well as the impact of the infection rate on Lyme disease in the state of Parana.

First record of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato antibodies in stray dogs in the Northwest Region of Parana State, Brazil

“…The presence of ticks in all dogs of this study reinforces the risk of transmission of Brazilian Lyme-Like disease or Baggio-Yoshinari Syndrome agents to humans in the studied area. Furthermore, Gonçalves et al (2013b) detected B. burgdorferi s.l. DNA in ticks of Dermacentor nitens specie in the northern region of the Parana state.…”

“…In Brazil, some studies have indicated the presence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in ticks from other genera such as Amblyomma, Rhipicephalus and Dermacentor (GONÇALVES et al, 2013b;MANTOVANI et al, 2012;YOSHINARI et al, 2010). Among these vectors, ticks belonging to Ixodes genus seem to be involved in the sylvatic transmission cycle of disease, whereas ticks from Amblyomma genus are associated to transmission between domestic animals and humans (ABEL et al, 2000;SOARES et al, 2000;YOSHINARI et al, 2003).…”

Recommendations on vaccination for Latin American small animal practitioners: a report of the WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines Group

“…In order to introduce a Borrelia vaccine to LATAM, there would need to be robust research studies into whether the pathogen exists in this region, whether there are competent tick vectors and wildlife reservoirs, and whether dogs and cats could become infected and go on to develop clinical signs of disease. In Brazil, studies have identified borreliosis in human patients with Brazilian Lyme-like disease or Baggio-Yoshinari syndrome (Yoshinari et al 2003, Mantovani et al 2012, and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in asymptomatic humans (Gonçalves et al 2015) and ticks from the genus Dermacentor (Gonçalves et al 2013) [EB1]. Few reports relate to companion animals, and although anti-Borrelia antibodies have been found in dogs, to our knowledge the pathogen has not been isolated from sick dogs (Spolidorio et al 2010, Nascimento et al 2016 [EB1].…”

Pesquisa Sorológica E Molecular De Borrelia Spp. Em Cães De Área Rural Do Pantanal De Nhecolândia E Na Área Urbana De Campo Grande - Estado Do Mato Grosso Do Sul

“…Estudos soro epidemiológicos de Borrelia spp. foram realizados em várias regiões do Brasil, e em várias espécies hospedeiras, como: bovinos, cães, equinos e animais silvestres e apresentaram valores próximos aos reportados em áreas endêmicas na América do Norte (YOSHINARI et al, 1995;ISHIKAWA et al,1997ISHIKAWA et al, , 2000SOARES et al, 1999;SALLES et al, 2002;MADUREIRA, 2007 (YPARRAGUIRRE et al, 2007;REZENDE et al, 2008) e Dermacentor nitens (GONÇALVES et al, 2013).…”