Ability of transovarially and subsequent transstadially infected Ixodes hexagonus ticks to maintain and transmit Borrelia burgdorferi in the laboratory

Abstract

In a previous study, transstadial and transovarial survival of Borrelia burgdorferi in Ixodes hexagonus and transmission to laboratory mice via the bite of infected females were demonstrated. Here, we report the ability of I. hexagonus progeny infected transovarially to maintain and transmit the spirochaete to the host. Ticks were examined for spirochaetes by direct immunofluorescence antibody test. I. hexagonus larvae derived from the parental transstadially infected females were fed on two white mice: 21/54 (38.9%) of these ticks examined as unfed nymphs were infected. I. hexagonus nymphs were fed on three white mice and examined for spirochaetes after moulting as adults: 7/25 (28%) were found to harbour the spirochaete. The success of B. burgdorferi transmission to the mice by larval and nymphal I. hexagonus was determined by xenodiagnosis using I. ricinus larvae: 20/50 (40%) and 30/99 (30.3%) of the I. ricinus larvae fed on the mice infected by I. hexagonus larvae and nymphs respectively became infected. This study shows that B. burgdorferi can be maintained through transovarial and subsequent transstadial transmissions in I. hexagonus.