Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies for Identification of Borrelia japonica, Isolates from Ixodes ovatus

Abstract

Monoclonal antibodies for identification of Borrelia japonica isolated from tick, Ixodes ovatus and long-tailed shrew, Sorex unguiculatus in Japan and Borrelia related to Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato) were prepared and characterized. All isolates belonging to B. japonica and isolates from I. dentatus and cottontail rabbit in North America reacted with MAb 01441b against flagellin which was prepared from immunized mice with strain HO14, type strain of B. japonica, but isolates from I. persulcatus, patient, and wood mouse, Apodemus speciosus ainu, in Japan, and isolates belonging to B. burgdorferi, B. garinii and B. afzelii from North America and Europe did not. Strains used in this study reacted with MAb P62 against common antigen which was prepared from immunized mice with strain NT24 isolated from I. persulcatus in Japan, but B. japonica did not. These MAbs are useful for identification and differentiation of B. japonica and B. burgdorferi sensu lato in Japan.

Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato in an Endemic Environment: Wild Sika Deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) with Infected Ticks and Antibodies

“…The Borrelia species identity as determined by antigenic differences has been suggested to correlate with the origin of ticks. In Japan, isolates from I. ovatus were different from those of I. persulcatus (8,24,25,33). In our survey, it may be suggested that I. ovatus and H. flava can acquire spirochetes by feeding on a same deer affected with I. persulcatus.…”

“…However, there have been reported suspected cases on the basis of serological tests (19,26). B. japonica found in I. ovatus was a new species (24,33). In our experiments, several inbred mouse strains were infected with B. japonica but the initial subcutaneous lesions were mild (unpublished data).…”

Characterization of Ehrlichia Species from Ixodes ovatus Ticks at the Foot of Mt. Fuji, Japan

“…In Japan, I. ovatus ticks are known to transmit other bacteria such as Borrelia japonica (14) and Rickettsia helvetica-like spotted-fever rickettsiae (6). B. japonica as well as the ehrlichiae is found in I. ovatus ticks in Shizuoka prefecture, but the spotted-fever rickettsiae has not been found so far.…”

Infectivity and Early Antibody Response to Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Isolated in Japan in Outbred Mice

“…Strains OvKK1, OvKK2, OvKK3, OvKK5, OvKK6, OvKK7, and OvKK8, fresh isolates from I. ovatus which was collected in the Ikawa region, were not infectious. These strains were determined to be B. japonica based on the molecular mass of Osp A and Osp B, and reactivities with MAbs H9724 and 01441b to flagellin and P62 and 062 to GroEL (23).…”

“…The strains were cultivated at 33 C in Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly II (BSK II) medium (3). The fresh isolates from I. ovatus were identified by Western blotting probed with MAbs H9724 and 01441b to flagellin and MAbs 062 and P62 to GroEL (23).…”