An extensive prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiologic agent of Lyme borreliosis, in Nagano Prefecture, Japan

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We surveyed the natural distribution of Borrelia species associated with Lyme disease in the subalpine forests of Nagano prefecture, Japan, during 1993-94. Tick-derived isolates (n=112) from Ixodes persulcatus and rodent-derived isolates (n=55) from Apodemus argenteus, Apodemus speciosus, Eothenomys andersoni, Eothenomys smithii, and Microtus montebelli were classified by rRNA gene restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (RFLP ribotyping). Ribotype group IV (an intraspecific variant of Borrelia garinii) was predominant among the tick isolates. It was also isolated repeatedly from the rodents. Ribotype group III (Borrelia afzelii) was detected in low frequencies among the tick and rodent isolates. The data suggest that humans are likely to be exposed to the group IV when they are bitten by I. persulcatus ticks.

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Japan, I. persulcatus is mainly distributed northward from central Honshu to Hokkaido and spirochetes of the genus Borrelia are frequently found from the ticks (10,19), representing a human health hazard for Lyme disease.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution of Borrelia Species Associated with Lyme Disease in the Subalpine Forests of Nagano Prefecture, Japan

Nakao

Uchikawa

Dewa

1996

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“…In Japan, a tick/spirochete survey demonstrated that Ixodes persulcatus and I. ovatus Neumann harbored B. burgdorferi (6,14,19), and the spirochetal isolates obtained from I. persulcatus were heterogeneous in their protein composition (6,15,16) but the isolates from I. ovatus, which were recently grouped into B. japonica, were homogeneous and different from the isolates from I. persulcatus (9,(14)(15)(16). However, Lyme disease caused by I. ovatus has not been confirmed in spite of the abundance of human tick bites by this species (16).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of Borrelia burgdorferi Isolated in Korea Using Outer Surface Protein A (OspA) Serotyping System

Kee

Hwang

et al. 1994

Two characteristic strains (935T, 934U) of B. burgdorferi isolated from Ixodes persulcatus and a wild rodent (Apodemus agrarius) in Korea were selected and analyzed by an immunoblot method using the monoclonal antibodies directed to different epitopes of outer surface protein A (OspA). The reactive pattern of strain 934U with these monoclonal antibodies was identical to that of strains belonging to B. afzelii and that of strain 935T was different from other isolates. Monoclonal antibody (5TEE3) which is specific to strain 935T did not react with any other Western and Japanese isolates. So, it was suggested that there exist at least two groups of B. burgdorferi in Korea. One could be classified as B. afzelii and the other is a divergent group from three known species of B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. garinii and B. afzelii.

“…Subsequently, similar cases have been recognized in northern Japan, particularly Hokkaido and Nagano districts (8). A tick/spirochete survey in these districts demonstrated that I. persulcatus and Ixodes ovatus Neumann harbored B. burgdorfer i, and the rates of infected adult ticks in these two species ranged from 10% to 50% (11,14). The spirochetal isolates obtained from I. persulcatus were heterogeneous in their protein compositions; however, the isolates from I. ovatus were homogeneous and different from the isolates from I. persulcatus (12).…”

mentioning

confidence: 65%

Comparison of Borrelia burgdorferi Isolated from Humans and Ixodid Ticks in Hokkaido, Japan

Nakao

Miyamoto

Kawagishi

et al. 1992

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Four spirochetal isolates ( JEM 1 to JEM4) were obtained from cutaneous lesions of patients manifesting erythema chronicum migrans in Hokkaido, Japan. In the protein profiles by SDS-PAGE and the reactivities with monoclonal antibodies (H5332 and H9724) by immunoblotting, all the human isolates were identical with the tick isolates from Ixodes persulcatus. These data indicate that I. persulcatus is an important vector of Lyme disease for humans in Japan.