Molecular Detection and Characterization of Borrelia garinii (Spirochaetales: Borreliaceae) in Ixodes nipponensis (Ixodida: Ixodidae) Parasitizing a Dog in Korea

Seung-Hun Lee,Dongmi Kwak,Paul John L Geraldino,Oh-Deog Kwon,Youn-Kyoung Goo

doi:10.3390/pathogens8040289

Seung-Hun Lee, Dongmi Kwak + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens8040289

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Abstract

The present study aimed to detect and characterize Borrelia spp. in ticks attached to dogs in Korea. Overall, 562 ticks (276 pools) attached to dogs were collected and tested for Borrelia infection by PCR targeting the 5S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region (rrf-rrl). One tick larva (pool level, 0.4%; individual level, 0.2%) was confirmed by sequencing Borrelia garinii, a zoonotic pathogen. For molecular characterization, the outer surface protein A (ospA) and flagellin genes were analyzed. Phylogenetic ospA analysis distinguished B. garinii from B. bavariensis, which has been recently identified as a novel Borrelia species. On the other hand, phylogenetic analysis showed that single gene analysis involving rrf-rrl or flagellin was not sufficient to differentiate B. garinii from B. bavariensis. In addition, the B. garinii-infected tick was identified as Ixodes nipponensis by sequencing according to mitochondrial 16S rRNA and the second transcribed spacer region. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report the molecular detection of B. garinii in I. nipponensis parasitizing a dog in Korea. Continuous monitoring of tick-borne pathogens in ticks attached to animals is required to avoid disease distribution and possible transmission to humans.

Highlights

Lyme borreliosis is a tick-borne infectious zoonotic disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), and it involves at least 19 species
B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.), B. afzelii, B. garinii, B. bavariensis, and B. spielmanii are known to be pathogenic to humans [1,2]
The purposes of the present study were to evaluate the prevalence of Borrelia spp. in ticks attached to dogs in Korea and to assess the molecular characteristics of the 5S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region, outer surface protein A, and flagellin genes using phylogenetic analysis and determine whether single gene analysis can be used for species identification

Summary

Introduction

Lyme borreliosis is a tick-borne infectious zoonotic disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), and it involves at least 19 species. Of these species, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.), B. afzelii, B. garinii, B. bavariensis, and B. spielmanii are known to be pathogenic to humans [1,2]. B. burgdorferi was first identified in the USA in 1982 [3], and it has been subsequently reported worldwide, including in Europe and Asia [4,5,6,7]. Was first identified in Ixodes ticks in 1992, and the first human case of Lyme disease was reported in 1993 [4,9].

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