The role of particular ticks developmental stages in the circulation of tick-borne pathogens in Central Europe. 5. Borreliaceae

Abstract

The developmental cycles of all B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies present typical, main pattern described in the 90thies. The simple scheme might be modified according to the biology of species and hosts preference. Central European genospecies of B. burgdorferi s.l. can be associated with four groups of hosts playing the role of animal reservoirs. The group 1 contains genospecies associated with rodents as primary animal reservoir – B. afzelii, B. garinii, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, strains B. bavariensis (B. garinii OspA serotype 4). The group 2 involves B. valaisiana and most of B. garinii strains, associated with birds. The group 3 involves B. spielmanii, the reservoir hosts are Gliridae, and hedgehogs. The group 4 includes B. lusitaniae, the hosts are lizards. B. miyamotoi enzootic cycle seems to be similar to B. burgdorferi complex, however, differs by the transovarial transmission possibility. The divisions are not extreme; in the hosts group, infected with appropriate Borrelia genospecies, very often are found the specimens infected with other genospecies.