A Serological Survey and Review of Clinical Lyme Borreliosis in Spain

Anda, Pedro; Rodríguez, Isabel; Loma, A de la; Fernandez, M. V.; Lozano, Álvaro

doi:10.1093/clind/16.2.310

Cited by 38 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…14 Borrelia burgdorferi is a frequent cause of human disease in the north of Spain (41%), where it is endemic, and the prevalence decreases in the south (26%). 2 This distribution coincides with that of I. ricinus, which is the principal vector of B. burgdorferi in endemic areas in Spain. 10 Roe deer are the most abundant wild ungulate in northwestern Spain, and among the most important feeding hosts for the tick I. ricinus.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 66%

SEROPREVALENCE OFBORRELIA BURGDORFERISENSU LATO IN ROE DEER (CAPREOLUS CAPREOLUS) FROM NORTHWESTERN SPAIN

Pato

Fontán²,

Vázquez³

et al. 2013

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine

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In the present study, the seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in roe deer in relation to different parameters in northwestern Spain was investigated. A total of 154 roe deer hunted between April 2007 and October 2008 from different localities of Galicia (northwest Spain) were examined. From each animal, a blood sample and all attached ticks found were collected. All the specimens for tick stages (larva, nymph, and adult) were speciated based on reference keys. Antibodies against B. burgdorferi were detected by indirect immunofluorescence (titer > or = 1:64). The percentage of roe deer seropositive for B. burgdorferi was 68.8% (106/ 154), of which 88.7% (94/106) were parasitized by ticks. Ixodes ricinus was the only species identified and was detected in 83.1% of roe deer with a mean (standard deviation [SD]) intensity of 46 +/- 47 ticks. Individual host characteristics such as age or sex did not have any effect on the prevalence of B. burgdorferi, but significant seasonal variation was observed, with higher prevalences in April-July than in August-October. Antibodies against B. burgdorferi were related to the presence of ticks. When analyzing all the factors together, the total number of ticks parasitizing roe deer was found as the most influential factor on B. burgdorferi prevalence. The results of this study have shown that roe deer in the northwest of Spain are highly exposed to B. burgdorferi and that exposure is related to the presence of I. ricinus.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 66%

SEROPREVALENCE OFBORRELIA BURGDORFERISENSU LATO IN ROE DEER (CAPREOLUS CAPREOLUS) FROM NORTHWESTERN SPAIN

Pato

Fontán²,

Vázquez³

et al. 2013

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine

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“…Moreover, in the north of Spain there are areas where LD is endemic that coincide with the distribution of I. ricinus (19). In these areas, several series of LD cases have been described (2,33,63), and epidemiological studies of B. burgdorferi sensu lato in questing ticks (9), in ticks collected from animals (24), and in ticks collected from humans (25) have been performed. Since the first isolation of B. burgdorferi sensu lato in Spain (29), only a few isolates have been obtained (9,62) and their characterization has shown a wide genospecies diversity and virulence in a mouse model (23).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Gil

Barral

Escudero

et al. 2005

Appl Environ Microbiol

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The role of small mammals as reservoir hosts for Borrelia burgdorferi was investigated in several areas where Lyme disease is endemic in northern Spain. A low rate of infestation by Ixodes ricinus nymphs was found in the small mammal populations studied that correlated with the near-absence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato in 184 animals tested and with the lack of transmission of B. burgdorferi sensu lato to I. ricinus larvae that fed on them. In contrast, questing ticks collected at the same time and in the same areas were found to carry a highly variable B. burgdorferi sensu lato repertoire (B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia valaisiana, and Borrelia afzelii). Interestingly, the only isolate obtained from small mammals (R57, isolated from a bank vole) grouped by phylogenetic analyses with other Borrelia species but in a separate clade from the Lyme disease and relapsing fever organisms, suggesting that it is a new species. This new agent was widely distributed among small mammals, with infection rates of 8.5 to 12% by PCR. Moreover, a high seroprevalence to B. burgdorferi sensu lato was found in the animal sera, suggesting cross-reactivity between B. burgdorferi sensu lato and R57. Although small mammals do not seem to play an important role as reservoirs for B. burgdorferi sensu lato in the study area, they seem to be implicated in the maintenance of spirochetes similar to R57.

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“…Though Lyme disease is thought to have been present in Spain since 1977, its existence was not serologically confirmed until 1987 [10,21,22]. Since then, B. burgdorferi infections have been frequently recorded, with differences in prevalence from area to area, and its geographical distribution may be increasing as a result of climate change, changes in land uses, and evolving socioeconomic factors [10,23].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Clinical cases have also been reported [10,11,12,13]. Thus far, the prevalence of LB has been studied in high-risk groups, in the general population, and in patients showing possible signs of infection [12,14,15,16,17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Seventeen-Year Epidemiological Surveillance Study of Borrelia burgdorferi Infections in Two Provinces of Northern Spain

Lledó

Gegúndez

Giménez-Pardo

et al. 2014

IJERPH

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This paper reports a 17-year seroepidemiological surveillance study of Borrelia burgdorferi infection, performed with the aim of improving our knowledge of the epidemiology of this pathogen. Serum samples (1,179) from patients (623, stratified with respect to age, sex, season, area of residence and occupation) bitten by ticks in two regions of northern Spain were IFA-tested for B. burgdorferi antibodies. Positive results were confirmed by western blotting. Antibodies specific for B. burgdorferi were found in 13.3% of the patients; 7.8% were IgM positive, 9.6% were IgG positive, and 4.33% were both IgM and IgG positive. Five species of ticks were identified in the seropositive patients: Dermacentor marginatus (41.17% of such patients) Dermacentor reticulatus (11.76%), Rhiphicephalus sanguineus (17.64%), Rhiphicephalus turanicus (5.88%) and Ixodes ricinus (23.52%). B. burgdorferi DNA was sought by PCR in ticks when available. One tick, a D. reticulatus male, was found carrying the pathogen. The seroprevalence found was similar to the previously demonstrated in similar studies in Spain and other European countries.

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A Serological Survey and Review of Clinical Lyme Borreliosis in Spain

Cited by 38 publications

References 35 publications

SEROPREVALENCE OFBORRELIA BURGDORFERISENSU LATO IN ROE DEER (CAPREOLUS CAPREOLUS) FROM NORTHWESTERN SPAIN

SEROPREVALENCE OFBORRELIA BURGDORFERISENSU LATO IN ROE DEER (CAPREOLUS CAPREOLUS) FROM NORTHWESTERN SPAIN

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

A Seventeen-Year Epidemiological Surveillance Study of Borrelia burgdorferi Infections in Two Provinces of Northern Spain

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