1998: B. burgdorferi s.l. in Britain for > 100 years.

1: Med Vet Entomol. 1998 Jan;12(1):89-97. Related Articles, Links


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

PMID: 9513944 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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