Lyme borreliosis in Europe and North America

Abstract

Since the discovery of the Lyme disease spirochete in North America in 1982 and in Europe in 1983, a plethora of studies on this unique group of spirochetes that comprise Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato has been accumulated. In an attempt to compare and contrast Lyme borreliosis in Europe and North America we have reviewed the biology of the aetiologic agents, as well as the clinical aspects, diagnosis and treatment of this disease on both continents. Moreover, we have detailed the ecology of the Ixodes ticks that transmit this infection and the reservoir hosts that maintain the spirochete cycle in nature. Finally, we have examined the transmission dynamics of the spirochete on both continents, as well as the available prevention strategies. Although it has been over two decades since the discovery of the Lyme disease spirochete, Lyme borreliosis is an expanding public health problem that has defied our attempts to control it. By comparing the accumulated experience of investigators in North America and Europe, where the disease is most frequently reported, we hope to advance the cause of developing novel approaches to combat Lyme borreliosis.

Environmental determinants ofIxodes ricinusticks and the incidence ofBorrelia burgdorferisensu lato, the agent of Lyme borreliosis, in Scotland

“…However, we found the opposite effect to that predicted for rainfall or humidity: questing nymphs were more likely to be present at times of low relative humidity and questing nymphs were more abundant in areas with lower annual rainfall. In general, previous studies have found that tick questing activity increases with increasing humidity (Randolph et al 2000;Piesman and Gern, 2004), but it might be that conditions can be too wet for ticks (e.g. they tend to quest less in the rain).…”

Similarities in murine infection and immune response to Borrelia bissettii and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto

“…erythema migrans, facial palsy and major joint arthralgia), exposure to vector ticks in endemic areas and serological diagnostic tests (Aguero-Rosenfeld et al, 2005). It is well recognized that B. burgdorferi sl spirochaetes cause a variety of clinical symptoms (Piesman & Gern, 2004;Rizzoli et al, 2011), overlap geographically (Margos et al, 2011(Margos et al, , 2012 and exhibit differential reactivity with current serological diagnostic tests (Branda et al, 2013;Norman et al, 1996). Initial diagnostic tests (ELISAs and IgM/IgG immunoblots) were designed based on the B. burgdorferi ss organism; however, with our increased understanding of the genetic diversity of this species complex, many of these tests are proving to be less effective in their diagnostic abilities in areas where multiple Borrelia species are implicated in human disease (Dressler et al, 1994;Hauser et al, 1997Hauser et al, , 1998aNorman et al, 1996).…”

Borrelia bavariensis sp. nov. is widely distributed in Europe and Asia

“…This species complex (also referred to as Lyme borreliosis group of spirochaetes) comprises parasitic bacteria that are maintained in natural transmission cycles between vector ticks of the genus Ixodes and numerous vertebrate reservoir hosts (Piesman & Gern, 2004). Members of the species complex are distributed throughout the temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere.…”