Evidence of Borrelia in wild and domestic mammals from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Carlos Emmanuel Montandon,Gabriel Guimarães Gomes,Cláudio Mafra,Elenice Mantovani,Natalino Hajime Yoshinari,Bruno Silva Milagres,Helio Langoni,Higo Nasser Moreira,Amanda De Freitas Padilha,Guido Gomes Wanderley,Rafael Mazioli,Márcio Antônio Moreira Galvão

doi:10.1590/s1984-29612014040

Abstract

The main of the study was to evaluate the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi infection in domestic and wild vertebrates and ectoparasites in endemic areas from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A total of 445 serum samples were examined by ELISA, which used the Borrelia burgdorferi strain G39/40 U.S. source and 3,821 tick samples were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). B. burgdorferi antibodies were found in 30 serum samples (6.74%); three in marsupials (7.69%), three in rodents (2.80%), nine in dogs (6.25%), and 15 in horses (9.68%). Nested-PCR performed in DNA samples obtained from collected ticks demonstrated negative results. Although attempts to amplify B. burgdorferi DNA from ticks had been not successful, the presence of seroreactive vertebrates suggests the possibility the Borrelia species circulating in these regions. Further research is required to provide information on the presence of Borrelia in Brazilian territory and its association with Baggio-Yoshinari syndrome.

Highlights

The main of the study was to evaluate the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi infection in domestic and wild vertebrates and ectoparasites in endemic areas from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil
Lyme disease (LD) is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato bacterium complex, which comprises a group of 12 distinct species; it is transmitted by ticks of Ixodes ricinus complex (JOPPERT, 1995; RANKA et al, 2004)
Mantovani et al (2007) were unable to confirm whether this syndrome is caused by new Borrelia species or it is related to genetically modified Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato microorganisms or other infectious agent

Summary

Introduction

The main of the study was to evaluate the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi infection in domestic and wild vertebrates and ectoparasites in endemic areas from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A total number of 3,821 ticks were collected from wild and domestic animals in the parasitic stage and from the ground in the municipalities of Santa Cruz do Escalvado, Pingo D’Água, and Caratinga.

Objectives

Results

Conclusion