Untitled

Abstract

The survey is based on a total of 1263 records (738 isolations and 525 molecular DNA detections) of five Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. genomic groups available from 26 European countries: B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. afzelii, B. garinii, B. valaisiana (= VS116) and B. lusitaniae (= PoTiB2). It shows the geographic distribution, the source (ixodid ticks 802 records, fleas 2 records, mosquitoes 2 records, wild mammals 66 records, human patients 391 records) and the association of the genomic groups with particular clinical manifestations of Lyme borreliosis in humans (B. afzelii significantly prevails in skin lesions whereas B. garinii is more often associated with neuroborreliosis). The most frequent genomic groups in Europe are B. garinii (501 records) and B. afzelii (469 records). They occur across the continent and islands, whereas the third frequent genomic group, B. burgdorferi s.s. (201 records), has only rarely been isolated in eastern Europe. The remaining genomic groups, i.e. B. valaisiana (85 records) and B. lusitaniae (7 records) have only been isolated from, or detected in, Ixodes ricinus ticks in a few European countries.

Identification and characterization of 31 isolates of Borrelia burgdorferi (Spirochaetales, Spirochaetaceae) obtained from various hosts and vectors using PCR-RFLP and SDS-PAGE analysis

“…We did not find B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, although this genospecies was reported in the Czech Republic (Štìpánová-Tresová et al 2000a, Danielová et al 2004, as well as in some localities in Southern Europe, e.g. Northern Italy (Cinco et al 1996), Austria (Stünzner et al 1998), Eastern Slovakia (Štìpánová-Tresová et al 2000b) and other European countries (Hubálek and Halouzka 1997, Maetzel et al 2005, Michalik et al 2005. However, our results prove the importance of investigation of the local distribution of B. burgdorferi genospecies in endemic areas and reveal the possibility that the human urban population in Brno may come in contact with the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis.…”

“…Geographic distribution of these genospecies includes 26 European countries (Hubálek and Halouzka 1997). The most frequent European genomic species, B. garinii and B. afzelii, occurs over the whole continent inclusive of the Czech Republic.…”

Borrelia lusitaniaeand Green Lizards (Lacerta viridis), Karst Region, Slovakia

“…B. garinii was the predominant genospecies in this locality. B. garinii and B. valaisiana are the most commonly reported species in central Europe ( 32 ). …”

Population genetics, taxonomy, phylogeny and evolution of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato

“…Differences in Borrelia transmission cycles also exist at a much finer scale driven by ecological factors, habitat types and microclimate which may locally determine tick and host abundance (Eisen et al, 2006; Fingerle et al, 2004; Hubalek and Halouzka, 1997; Killilea et al, 2008; Piesman, 2002; Rauter and Hartung, 2005). …”