Molecular genetic surveillance based on the identification of borrelia in ixodid ticks

Abstract

Aim. To improve emergency diagnostic measures and preventive antimicrobial therapy in patients with ixodid tick bites using molecular genetic techniques for identification of Вorrelia spp.Materials and Methods. Borrelia strains were isolated by inoculation of tick suspension on the BSK-H medium. Molecular genetic screening of Вorrelia spp. was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing. In total, we examined 4,276 patients including 272 bitten by Ixodes persulcatus and 3,108 bitten by Dermacentor reticulatus. In addition, we investigated blood of 896 patients for molecular signatures of Borrelia spp.Results. Borrelia spp. was detected by PCR in 30.1% of Ixodes persulcatus and 3.2% of Dermacentor reticulatus suspensions. However, detection of Borrelia spp. in blood was rare, reaching only 1.1% in those bitten by Ixodes persulcatus and two cases of Dermacentor reticulatus bites. Genotyping of Borrelia spp. in 8 tick suspensions showed the presence of Borrelia garinii in 1 sample, Borrelia afzelii in 5 samples, Borrelia bavariensis in 1 sample, and Borrelia miyamotoi in 1 sample.Conclusion. Molecular genetic screening showed the significant proportion of Ixodid ticks bearing Borrelia spp., indicating the need in specific antimicrobial therapy.