Identification of Borrelia burgdorferi ospC genotypes in canine tissue following tick infestation: Implications for Lyme disease vaccine and diagnostic assay design

Abstract

In endemic regions, Lyme disease is a potential health threat to dogs. Canine Lyme disease manifests with arthritis-induced lameness, anorexia, fever, lethargy, lymphadenopathy and, in some cases, fatal glomerulonephritis. A recent study revealed that the regional mean for the percentage of seropositive dogs in the Northeast of the USA is 11.6%. The outer surface protein C (OspC) of Lyme disease spirochetes is an important virulence factor required for the establishment of infection in mammals. It is a leading candidate in human and canine Lyme disease vaccine development efforts. Over 30 distinct ospC phyletic types have been defined. It has been hypothesized that ospC genotype may influence mammalian host range. In this study, Ixodes scapularis ticks collected from the field in Rhode Island were assessed for infection with B. burgdorferi. Ticks were fed on purpose bred beagles to repletion and infection of the dogs was assessed through serology and PCR. Tissue biopsies (n = 2) were collected from each dog 49 days post-tick infestation (dpi) and the ospC genotype of the infecting strains determined by direct PCR of DNA extracted from tissue or by PCR after cultivation of spirochetes from biopsy samples. The dominant ospC types associated with B. burgdorferi canine infections differed from those associated with human infection, indicating a relationship between ospC sequence and preferred host range. Knowledge of the most common ospC genotypes associated specifically with infection of dogs will facilitate the rational design of OspC-based canine Lyme disease vaccines and diagnostic assays.

Antibody responses toBorrelia burgdorferiouter surface proteins C and F in experimentally infected Beagle dogs

“…18 However, dogs may also be infected with ospC genotypes that differ significantly from those associated commonly with human infection. 13 As further support, a 2014 report 1 demonstrated significant genotype-specific diversity in the anti-OspC antibody responses after B. burgdorferi infection of laboratory Beagles by tick bite. Moreover, we used an OspC that was derived from an ospC with only 87% sequence identity compared with the ospC used previously.…”

ACVIM consensus update on Lyme borreliosis in dogs and cats

“…There are at least 52 Borrelia species, including 21 in the LB group ( B. burgdorferi sensu lato; Bb‐sl; these gram‐negative spirochetes generally migrate within the host interstitially), 29 in the relapsing fever group (migrating hematogenously), and 2 undetermined members. In dogs residing in North America, LB has only been associated with B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bb), of which at least 30 subtypes or strains exist, based on outer surface protein C (OspC) genotyping . The strains appear host‐specific; different strains are more common in people as compared with dogs .…”

“…In dogs residing in North America, LB has only been associated with B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bb), of which at least 30 subtypes or strains exist, based on outer surface protein C (OspC) genotyping . The strains appear host‐specific; different strains are more common in people as compared with dogs . In Europe, coinfections of Bb with other Bb‐sl strains (ie, B. garinii ) may predispose dogs to illness .…”

“…25 More than 30 OspC genotypes or strains are found in nature (not all are pathogenic). Among 16 strains found in New England, the most common ones in humans were types A, B, I, K, and N, whereas the most common ones in dogs were A, B, F, I, and N. 7 This finding impacts vaccine development for humans and dogs.…”

Comparison of effectiveness of cefovecin, doxycycline, and amoxicillin for the treatment of experimentally induced early Lyme borreliosis in dogs

“…Biopsies were taken using a 4 mm punch biopsy under sedation using Dexdomitor® (dexmedetomidine hydrochloride; Zoetis) and Antisedan® (atipamezole hydrochloride; Zoetis) for reversal. The first punch biopsy was placed in Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly II (BSK II) medium for bacterial culture (data not shown) and the second was immediately frozen by placement on dry ice and stored at −20 °C until DNA isolation and PCR were performed as described [ 28 ].…”