A novel, fast-growing Borrelia sp. isolated from the hard tick Hyalomma aegyptium in Turkey

Abstract

A novel, fast-growing spirochaete was isolated from the hard tick Hyalomma aegyptium (family Ixodidae, subfamily Metastriata) using Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly (BSK) II medium. Tick samples were taken during the summer of 2000 from the Istanbul area in northwestern Turkey. Sixty-seven of 153 adults (44 %) and 72 of 185 nymphs (39 %) were infected with the novel spirochaete, whereas none of the 20 larvae examined were infected. The optimal growth temperature of the spirochaete in BSK II medium was 34-37 6C, and it could grow at 39 6C. Doubling times at 34 and 37 6C were 5?3 and 5?1 h, respectively. Six pure cultures of the spirochaete were obtained and characterized by microscopic observation, sequence analysis of the flagellin gene (flaB), SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. The spirochaete was morphologically similar to those of the genus Borrelia and contained a 41 kDa protein reactive with mAb H9724 specific to the flagellin of a Borrelia species. Polyclonal antibody raised to this spirochaete reacted with several antigen bands, whereas no bands were detected with Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia hermsii, Borrelia turicatae and Borrelia parkeri. The flaB sequences of the six isolates showed high similarity, with sequence similarity values ranging from 99?2 to 100 %; however, the similarity of the isolates' flaB sequences to those of the Lyme-disease-related Borrelia and relapsing-fever-associated Borrelia species was less than 90 %. These findings suggest that the unique spirochaete is a member of the genus Borrelia, and differs from previously described Borrelia species.

Tick-Borne Diseases in Turkey: A Review Based on One Health Perspective

“…was also isolated from H . aegyptium ticks collected from tortoises ( Testudo graeca ) [27], and the spirochete was named as Bor . turcica sp.…”

Identification of a New Borrelia Species among Small Mammals in Areas of Northern Spain Where Lyme Disease Is Endemic

“…This latter genospecies seems to have a larger distribution area, since related species have been found in Europe in I. ricinus (26,67) and in America in Ixodes scapularis (74). The number of species of the RF group is increasing, as new species have been identified in Hyalomma aegyptium feeding in tortoises in Turkey (34) and in patients and soft ticks in Tanzania (44).…”

Detection and isolation of tick‐borne bacteria (Anaplasma spp., Rickettsia spp., and Borrelia spp.) in Amblyomma varanense ticks on lizard (Varanus salvator)

“…was found by sequencing of flaB . The similarity sequences of flaB among Borrelia andersonii , “ Candidatus Borrelia tachyglossi”, and Borrelia turcica ranged between 98.0% and 100%, 99.6% and 99.9%, and 99.2% and 100%, respectively . In this study, although we only analyzed ticks collected from a single lizard, the sequence variability of flaB among strains ranged from 97.3% to 99.7%.…”