2005: Bb sl DNA was identified in 86 of 160 (54%) lizards representing nine species and six genera.

1: Appl Environ Microbiol. 2005 May;71(5):2616-25. Related Articles,
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Molecular identification and analysis of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu
lato in lizards in the southeastern United States.

Clark K, Hendricks A, Burge D.

Department of Public Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville,
FL 32224, USA. kclark@xxxxxxx

Lyme borreliosis (LB) group spirochetes, collectively known as Borrelia
burgdorferi sensu lato, are distributed worldwide. Wild rodents are
acknowledged as the most important reservoir hosts. Ixodes scapularis
is the primary vector of B. burgdorferi sensu lato in the eastern
United States, and in the southeastern United States, the larvae and
nymphs mostly parasitize certain species of lizards. The primary aim of
the present study was to determine whether wild lizards in the
southeastern United States are naturally infected with Lyme borreliae.
Blood samples obtained from lizards in Florida and South Carolina were
tested for the presence of LB spirochetes primarily by using B.
burgdorferi sensu lato-specific PCR assays that amplify portions of the
flagellin (flaB), outer surface protein A (ospA), and 66-kDa protein
(p66) genes. Attempts to isolate spirochetes from a small number of
PCR-positive lizards failed. However, PCR amplification and sequence
analysis of partial flaB, ospA, and p66 gene fragments confirmed
numerous strains of B. burgdorferi sensu lato, including Borrelia
andersonii, Borrelia bissettii, and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, in
blood from lizards from both states. B. burgdorferi sensu lato DNA was
identified in 86 of 160 (54%) lizards representing nine species and six
genera. The high infection prevalence and broad distribution of
infection among different lizard species at different sites and at
different times of the year suggest that LB spirochetes are established
in lizards in the southeastern United States.

PMID: 15870353 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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