Distribution of Bb [vector of Lyme disease] in British ticks

From: JWissmille (jwissmille_at_aol.com)
Date: 11/25/04 

Date: 25 Nov 2004 03:19:16 GMT

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=
Abstract&list_uids=9513944

Med Vet Entomol. 1998 Jan;12(1):89-97.

*Distribution of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. spirochaete DNA in British
ticks (Argasidae and Ixodidae) since the 19th century, assessed by PCR.*

*Hubbard MJ, Baker AS, Cann KJ.*

Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, Department of
Biochemistry, London, U.K.

The distribution of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the Lyme
borreliosis agent, was surveyed in British ticks in the collection of
the Natural History Museum, London. Alcohol-preserved specimens of eight
species of ticks known to attack humans were studied: Ixodes ricinus, I.
hexagonus, I. uriae, I. trianguliceps, Dermacentor reticulatus,
Haemaphysalis punctata, Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Argas
vespertilionis. The sample comprised all life stages and originated from
a wide range of host species, collection dates (1896-1994) and
geographical localities in England, Scotland and Wales. Borrelia
burgdorferi s.l. DNA, detected by a polymerase chain reaction that
targeted the outer surface protein A gene, was found in all eight
species. The overall proportion of PCR-positive specimens ranged from
7.8% for I. hexagonus (mostly from mustelids and hedgehogs) to 98.3% for
I. uriae (mostly from seabirds). Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. DNA was found
for the first time in the bat parasite A. vespertilionis (85.3%). The
spirochaete is newly recorded in British populations of I. trianguliceps
(97.4%, mostly from voles, mice and shrews), D. reticulatus (12.5% from
dog and man) and R. sanguineus (30% from dogs and human dwellings). Of
the four tick species with larvae available for testing, examples of I.
ricinus, I. uriae and A. vespertilionis were PCR positive, as were
significantly more nymphs than adults of I. ricinus, I. hexagonus and A.
vespertilionis. Analyses showed that B. burgdorferi s.l. has been
consistently present in British tick populations since at least 1897.
Ticks positive for B. burgdorferi s.l. DNA were collected in all months
of the year, throughout Britain, and were found on a wide range of
mammal and bird species. PCR positivity does not prove vector or
reservoir competence, but the use of archived material has demonstrated
an extensive range of host-tick relationships involving B. burgdorferi
s.l. in Britain for > 100 years.

Publication Types:

    * Historical Article

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