Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Lato Detected in Skin of Norwegian Mountain Hares (Lepus Timidus) Without Signs of Dissemination

Lyme borreliosis is the most common vector-borne zoonosis in the northern hemisphere, and the pathogens causing Lyme borreliosis have distinct, incompletely described transmission cycles involving multiple host groups. The mammal community in Fennoscandia differs from continental Europe, and we have limited data on potential competent and incompetent hosts of the different genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (sl) at the northern distribution ranges where Lyme borreliosis is emerging. We used qPCR to determine presence of B. burgdorferi sl in tissue samples (ear) from 16 mammalian species and questing ticks from Norway, and we sequenced the 5S–23 S rDNA intergenic spacer region to determine genospecies from 1449 qPCR-positive isolates obtaining 423 sequences. All infections coming from small rodents and shrews were linked to the genospecies B. afzelii, while B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (ss) was only found in red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris). Red squirrels were also infected with B. afzelii and B. garinii. There was no evidence of B. burgdorferi sl infection in moose (Alces alces), red deer (Cervus elaphus) or roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), confirming the role of cervids as incompetent hosts. In infected questing ticks in the two western counties, B. afzelii (67% and 75%) dominated over B. garinii (27% and 21%) and with only a few recorded B. burgdorferi ss and B. valaisiana. B. burgdorferi ss were more common in adult ticks than in nymphs, consistent with a reservoir in squirrels. Our study identifies potential competent hosts for the different genospecies, which is key to understand transmission cycles at high latitudes of Europe.

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“…afzelii and B . burgdorferi ss in hare was documented in south Norway 46 . Hares were also infected with B .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato detected in 16 mammal species and questing ticks from northern Europe

Mysterud

Stigum

Jaarsma

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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“…in Europe (Lindgren and Jaenson, 2006), it seems that spirochaetal infections rarely occur in these animals. Also for what concerns this pathogen in lagomorphs, only few data are available in Kjelland et al (2011) found B. afzelii and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto in hares' skin samples in Norway and serological surveys detected prevalence values of 41.6% in Czech Republic (Sykora et al, 1990) and 65.8% in Italy (Ebani et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular survey on the occurrence of arthropod-borne pathogens in wild brown hares ( Lepus europaeus ) from Central Italy

Rocchigiani

Ebani

Nardoni

et al. 2018

Infection, Genetics and Evolution

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“…burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.) (Kurtenbach et al ., ; Wodecka, ; Franke et al ., ). These genospecies can also be found in medium‐sized mammal like hedgehogs, hares and squirrels (Gern et al ., ; Kjelland et al ., ; Pisanu et al ., ). The B .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…genospecies, which are Borrelia species discriminated genetically, found in small mammals in Europe are mainly B. afzelii and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.) (Kurtenbach et al, 2002;Wodecka, 2011;Franke et al, 2013). These genospecies can also be found in medium-sized mammal like hedgehogs, hares and squirrels (Gern et al, 1997;Kjelland et al, 2011;Pisanu et al, 2014). The B. burgdorferi s.l.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological factors influencing small mammal infection by Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in agricultural and forest landscapes

Perez

Bastian

Chastagner

et al. 2017

Environmental Microbiology

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Small mammals are key components of numerous tick-borne disease systems, as hosts for immature ticks and pathogen reservoirs. To study the factors influencing tick-borne infection in small mammals, we trapped small mammals and collected questing ticks in spring and autumn in 2012 and 2013 at 24 sites in a 10 × 15 km rural landscapes (Brittany, France). Tissue samples were screened by real-time PCR for Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Of the two dominant small mammal species captured, bank voles (Myodes glareolus) had higher prevalence than wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) for both infections, presumably because of specific differences in immunological defenses. Prevalence of infections was higher in 2013 than in 2012, likely because small mammals were fivefold less abundant in 2013, favouring tick aggregation. Bacterial prevalence, which was higher in autumn, was not associated to questing Ixodes ricinus nymph abundance which was six times higher in spring, but rather to the structure of the small mammal community. These findings suggest the involvement of endophilic tick species, I. trianguliceps and/or I. acuminatus, in bacterial transmission. Our study highlights that the entire community of hosts and vectors, and their interactions, should be considered to fully understand the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases.

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Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Lato Detected in Skin of Norwegian Mountain Hares (Lepus Timidus) Without Signs of Dissemination

Cited by 9 publications

References 21 publications

Genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato detected in 16 mammal species and questing ticks from northern Europe

Genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato detected in 16 mammal species and questing ticks from northern Europe

Molecular survey on the occurrence of arthropod-borne pathogens in wild brown hares ( Lepus europaeus ) from Central Italy

Ecological factors influencing small mammal infection by Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in agricultural and forest landscapes

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