Borrelia lonestariDNA in AdultAmblyomma americanumTicks, Alabama

Rapid Detection Methods and Prevalence Estimation forBorrelia lonestari glpQinAmblyomma americanum(Acari: Ixodidae) Pools of Unequal Size

“…We observed a higher prevalence of B. lonestari DNA in A. americanum nymphs compared with adults, but both estimates are within the range of B. lonestari prevalence in A. americanum reported in the literature (Bacon et al 2003, Burkot et al 2001, Rich et al 2001, Stegall-Faulk et al 2003, Stromdahl et al 2003. The lack of B. lonestari in any of 19 pools collected at site A241 suggests that B. lonestari-infected A. americanum may be spatially focused.…”

“…However, A. americanum was shown to be ineffective in transmitting B. burgdorferi to mice in laboratory vector competence studies (Mukolwe et al 1992, Piesman and Happ 1997, Ryder et al 1992, Sanders and Oliver 1995, and epidemiologic investigations of patients in Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, and South Carolina with physician-diagnosed erythema migrans (EM) or EM-like rash failed to show an association between exposure to A. americanum and Lyme disease (Campbell et al 1995, Felz et al 1999, Kirkland et al 1997). Recent laboratory evidence shows that 1-6% of A. americanum carry a spirochete named Borrelia lonestari, not B. burgdorferi (Bacon et al 2003, Burkot et al 2001, Stegall-Faulk et al 2003, Stromdahl et al 2003). Therefore in southeastern and south central states, transmission of B. lonestari to humans during the bite of A. americanum is a more plausible explanation for reported Lyme disease-like illness than transmission of B. burgdorferi by its tick vector, Ixodes scapularis, which is rare (Barbour 1996, Oliver 1996.…”

“…lonestari flagellin B and 16S rRNA gene sequences were first discovered in ticks from Texas and New Jersey and have now been documented in A. americanum ticks from 13 states (Bacon et al 2003; Barbour et al 1996;Burkot et al 2001;Rich et al 2001;Stegall-Faulk et al 2003;Stromdahl et al 2003, in the blood from white tailed deer in four southern states (Moore et al 2003), and the skin rash biopsy sample and attached A. americanum tick from one human patient with possible exposure in Maryland or North Carolina (James et al 2001). However, further evidence that B. lonestari causes Lyme disease-like illness in humans has been difficult to obtain.…”

Diagnosis

“…2 Furthermore, it is believed that the Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum) is the probable vector for the disease. 3,4 Based on a review of available literature and the lack of confirmed laboratory evidence of Lyme disease in our region, the authors hypothesize that the rash observed in this patient was likely a case of southern tick-associated rash illness.…”

A Skin Lesion in a Patient from Kentucky

“…Borrelia lonestari, a species phylogenetically distinct from B. burgdorferi, is considered to be a possible etiologic agent for this illness, on the basis of its identification by PCR in ∼2% of A. americanum ticks from many locations in the southeastern and south-central United States [5][6][7]. In a single case, DNA of B. lonestari was amplified from both the erythema migranslike skin lesion and the associated A. americanum tick [6].…”