Abstract
BackgroundThis study investigated Borrelia species prevalence in ticks from vegetation, through a molecular method, in Gwangju Metropolitan City, South Korea.Methodology/Principal findingsA total of 484 ticks were collected through flagging and dragging in a suburban area of Gwangju Metropolitan City, South Korea, in 2014. These ticks were morphologically identified and subjected to nested PCR, targeting Borrelia–specific CTP synthase (pyrG), outer surface protein A (ospA) and flagellin (flaB) genes. Molecular biological species identification of Borrelia-positive ticks was conducted via 16S rRNA PCR assays. Of the 484 ticks collected, 417 (86.2%) were identified as Haemaphysalis longicornis, 42 (8.7%) as H. flava, and 25 (5.2%) as Ixodes nipponensis. All the ixodid ticks containing Borrelia species bacteria were confirmed to be I. nipponensis adults, by both morphological and molecular methods. Of the 25 I. nipponensis ticks collected, four (16%) were positive for Borrelia species, three of which were B. afzelii and one B. miyamotoi.Conclusions/SignificanceOur study has shown the harboring of B. miyamotoi by I. nipponensis in South Korea. Morphological and molecular genetic analyses revealed that, in South Korea, I. nipponensis could potentially transmit B. miyamotoi to humans.
Highlights
Vector-borne, infectious diseases can be transmitted via mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and other vectors, and account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases [1]
Of the tick species capable of transmitting Lyme borreliosis pathogens, I. ricinus is typically found in Europe, I. scapularis and I. pacificus are found in North America, and I. persulcatus and I. nipponensis in Asia [5,6,7]
After B. miyamotoi was first identified in I. persulcatus ticks and Apodemus mice, collected in Hokkaido, Japan [18], it was found in several other tick species, such as I. scapularis and I
Summary
Vector-borne, infectious diseases can be transmitted via mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and other vectors, and account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases [1]. Borrelia miyamotoi in Ixodes nipponensis in Korea caused by Ixodes species having a Borrelia infection, occurring mainly in Europe, North America, and Asia. Bacteria of the Borrelia -genus, including Borrelia burgdorferi, B. afzelii, and B. garinii, are known to be causative pathogens of Lyme borreliosis [3, 4]. Of the tick species capable of transmitting Lyme borreliosis pathogens, I. ricinus is typically found in Europe, I. scapularis and I. pacificus are found in North America, and I. persulcatus and I. nipponensis in Asia [5,6,7]. I. scapularis is the primary vector of B. burgdorferi (the Lyme disease spirochete), B. miyamotoi (the B. miyamotoi disease spirochete), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (the causative agents of anaplasmosis), Babesia microti (the causative agents of babesiosis), and Powassan virus (the causative agents of Powassan virus infection) [8]. This study investigated Borrelia species prevalence in ticks from vegetation, through a molecular method, in Gwangju Metropolitan City, South Korea
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
