Ticks and Mosquitoes as Vectors of Borrelia burgdorferi s. l. in the Forested Areas of Szczecin

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the infection level of adult forms and larvae of ticks and mosquitoes with Borrelia burgdorferi in the forested areas of Szczecin. A total of 1699 ticks Ixodes ricinus, including 1422 nymphs, 277 adult forms and 2862 mosquito females representing the genera Aedes (89.6%) and Culex (10.4%) were collected between the years 2004 and 2005. A further 3746 larvae and 1596 pupae of Culex pipiens pipiens were colleted from water bodies. Borrelia burgdorferi s. l. was detected in the arthropods by the method of indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). A positive immunological reaction was detected in 16.6% of the adult forms and in 16.5% of the nymphs of Ixodes ricinus. Spirochetes were also detected in 1.7% of mosquito females, 3.2% of larvae and in 1.6% of pupae of Culex pipiens pipiens. The results of the present study confirm that contact with ticks constitutes the main risk of contracting Lyme disease, although mosquitoes play a role as vectors as well.

Is there a Lyme-like disease in Australia? Summary of the findings to date

“…In the northern hemisphere, B. burgdorferi s. l. has also been detected in Ixodidae (hard tick) of genera other than Ixodes [1] , [2] , [3] , [4] and even in haematophagous arthropods including lice [2] , fleas [4] , [5] , keds [2] , [6] , mites [7] , [8] , [9] , flies [10] , [11] , [12] and mosquitoes [9] , [13] , [14] . While the transmission capability of these arthropods remains undetermined, it does raise the possibility of Lyme transmission by arthropods other than Ixodes.…”

“…Typically, the disease first presents with an erythema migrans rash at the site of the tick bite, followed by flu-like symptoms and later by debilitating arthritic, dermatological and neurological manifestations. The bacteria are transmitted by Ixodes species ticks, although other Ixodidae ticks [1] , [2] , [3] , [4] and haematophagous arthropods [2] , [4] , [5] , [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] , [12] , [13] , [14] have been implicated in carrying the bacteria. Bacterial reservoirs of the disease are usually small mammals, birds and occasionally reptiles [15] , [16] .…”

Lyme borreliosis in Canada: biological diversity and diagnostic complexity from an entomological perspective

“…In addition to tick species, mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae), tabanid flies (Diptera: Tabanidae), and fleas (Siphonaptera) are known to harbor a competent vector B. burgdorferi but none has been shown to be competent as defined by Eisen and Lane (2002). In mosquitoes, for example, 7%-8% of adult female Aedes Meigen in Connecticut (Magnarelli et al 1986) and 1.7% of Culex pipiens (L.) in Poland carried B. burgdorferi (Kosik-Bogacka et al 2007). Furthermore, transmission between mosquito life stages is suggested by the occurrence of Borrelia in 1.6% of larval Culex L. in the Czech Republic (Zákovská et al 2002) and 3.2% of larval and 1.6% of pupal C. pipiens in Poland (Kosik-Bogacka et al 2007).…”

“…In mosquitoes, for example, 7%-8% of adult female Aedes Meigen in Connecticut (Magnarelli et al 1986) and 1.7% of Culex pipiens (L.) in Poland carried B. burgdorferi (Kosik-Bogacka et al 2007). Furthermore, transmission between mosquito life stages is suggested by the occurrence of Borrelia in 1.6% of larval Culex L. in the Czech Republic (Zákovská et al 2002) and 3.2% of larval and 1.6% of pupal C. pipiens in Poland (Kosik-Bogacka et al 2007). Mites may also contain B. burgdorferi (Zakovska et al 2008), but no surveyed spiders have been found to harbor Borrelia (Suffridge et al 1999).…”

Knowledge on Lyme disease among foresters

“…The tick plays an important role in the phylum Arthropoda. The literature data report that some species of flies, fleas, and mosquitoes may transmit Lyme disease, however, their organisms cannot create proper conditions for spirochete development, and thus their significance as reservoir and vector is limited [6][7][8]. The respondents attribute a considerable role to deer as a reservoir of spirochete (44% of the interviewed subjects).…”