Brazilian borreliosis with special emphasis on humans and horses

Abstract

Borreliosis caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is a cosmopolitan zoonosis studied worldwide; it is called Lyme disease in many countries of the Northern Hemisphere and Lyme-like or Baggio-Yoshinari Syndrome in Brazil. However, despite the increasing number of suspect cases, this disease is still neglected in Brazil by the medical and veterinary communities. Brazilian Lyme-like borreliosis likely involves capybaras as reservoirs and Amblyomma and Rhipicephalus ticks as vectors. Thus, domestic animals can serve as key carriers in pathogen dissemination. This zoonosis has been little studied in horses in Brazil. The first survey was performed in the state of Rio de Janeiro, and this Brazilian Borreliosis exhibits many differences from the disease widely described in the Northern Hemisphere. The etiological agent shows different morphological and genetic characteristics, the disease has a higher recurrence rate after treatment with antibiotics, and the pathogen stimulates intense symptoms such as a broader immune response in humans. Additionally, the Brazilian zoonosis is not transmitted by the Ixodes ricinus complex. With respect to clinical manifestations, Baggio-Yoshinari Syndrome has been reported to cause neurological, cardiac, ophthalmic, muscle, and joint alterations in humans. These symptoms can possibly occur in horses. Here, we present a current panel of studies involving the disease in humans and equines, particularly in Brazil.

Borrelia Infection in Latin America

“…It appears that B. chilensis and possible new strains or new related species are extended throughout South America 67 . Utilizing a battery of PCR methods targeting the gene flagellin (fla) and the rrfA-rrlB intergenic spacer region, it has been shown that I. sigelos, I. neuquenensis, and I. pararicinus ticks are infected with B.b.s.l.…”

Lyme borreliosis in the horse: A mini-review

“…The seroprevalence of Lyme borreliosis in horses varies with geographical areas. In some areas of the north-eastern USA it is about 33-50% (Funk et al, 2016;Magnarelli et al, 2000), 9.8-42.8% in Brazil (Basile et al, 2016), 31-48% in France (Maurizi et al, 2010), 29% in Denmark (Hansen et al, 2010), 26% in Poland (Stefanciková et al, 2008), 24% in Italy (Ebani et al, 2012), 6% in Turkey (Bhide et al, 2008), and 5.5% in Korea (Lee et al, 2016). Older horses are more prone for positive test response than younger ones (Ebani et al, 2012;Funk et al, 2016).…”

Molecular detection of Borrelia burgdorferi in free-living golden headed lion tamarins (Leontopithecus chrysomelas) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…In Brazil, borreliosis is called Brazilian Lyme-like disease, Baggio-Yoshinari Syndrome or Brazilian Borreliosis (BB), is transmitted by ticks that are not from the Ixodes ricinus complex, and is caused by B. burgdorferi sensu lato 8 .…”

“…Borrelia infection in humans was first described in Brazil in 1992, and has an increasing number of suspect cases, differing from LD due to the recurrence rate after treatment and the intense immune response 8 . The presence of Borrelia burgdorferi in free-living golden-headed lion tamarins that inhabit Atlantic Forest biome of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, confirms that this spirochete is circulating in this region and suggests that these small primates may play a role in transmission of this pathogen to other animals or human beings.…”