Borrelia spirochetes in European exotic farm animals

Abstract

Ticks transmit a broad spectrum of pathogens, threatening both animal and human health. Tick survival and proliferation are strongly dependent on host selection and suitability. The hard tick Ixodes ricinus, which is widespread throughout most of Europe, is a host generalist capable of feeding on many different vertebrate species. Pasture-kept exotic farm animals may be at a high risk for tick and tick-borne pathogens infestations but research characterizing this is currently lacking. This study focused on the detection of Borrelia spirochetes (including Borrelia miyamotoi) in exotic farm animals. Using nested-PCR with Borrelia-specific primers, 121 serum samples from 54 exotic farm animals of several species bred in four different farms in Bohemia and Moravia (Czechia) were tested. Positive samples were sequenced for the identification of Borrelia species. The prevalence of Borrelia DNA in the samples ranged from 13 to 67%, depending on the sampling site. The sequencing results confirmed the DNA presence of multiple spirochete species from the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. Only one sample from an ostrich (Struthio camelus) was found to be positive for Borrelia myiamotoi. The results show that exotic farm animals can serve as hosts for hard ticks and can be infected by Borrelia spirochetes, transmitted by hard ticks. Therefore, these animals could play a relevant role in maintaining Borrelia spirochetes in nature.

Global prevalence and species diversity of tick-borne pathogens in buffaloes worldwide: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…A few surveys ( n = 12) were conducted on buffaloes from South America [ 124 – 135 ] including Brazil (9), Colombia (2), and Argentina (1). The lowest number ( n = 4) of the eligible studies came from Europe [ 118 – 121 ]: Hungary (2), the Czech Republic (1), and Italy (1). Likewise, isolated surveys were conducted on buffaloes from North America (2), Cuba (1), and Mexico (1) (Additional file 1 : Table S1).…”

Surveillance of tick-borne bacteria infection in ticks and forestry populations in Inner Mongolia, China

“…B. miyamotoi , initially identified and isolated in Japan in 1994 ( 50 ), is the causative agent of B. miyamotoi disease with generalized flu-like symptoms. Human cases of B. miyamotoi infection have been reported in European countries ( 51 , 52 ), the United States ( 53 , 54 ), Australia ( 55 ), and Japan ( 56 ). A survey of B. miyamotoi in Inner Mongolia suggested that 2.6% of I. persulcatus carried B. miyamotoi and 1.7% of patients bitten by ticks were infected with B. miyamotoi ( 57 ).…”

Borrelia miyamotoi: A Comprehensive Review

“…An important distinction needs to be made between animal infections, where the animal tissue tested positive for B. miyamotoi ( Table 3 ), and animal-associated tick infections, where the animal tissue was not tested, but the tick(s) attached to the animal tested positive for B. miyamotoi ( Table 4 ). Borrelia miyamotoi has also been detected in both birds and bird-associated ticks; however, there has been minimal follow-up research to interpret the role of birds in B. miyamotoi perpetuation and maintenance ( Table 3 and Table 4 ) [ 94 , 109 , 110 ].…”