Current Methods Used to Identify and Genotype Spirochaetes Borreliella Burgdorferi

Abstract

Authors' contribution Wkład autorów: A. Study design/planning zaplanowanie badań B. Data collection/entry zebranie danych C. Data analysis/statistics dane-analiza i statystyki D. Data interpretation interpretacja danych E. Preparation of manuscript przygotowanie artykułu F. Literature analysis/search wyszukiwanie i analiza literatury G. Funds collection zebranie funduszy Summary Lyme disease, as one of tick-borne diseases, has been a current epidemiological problem in Poland and in the world for several years. The proportion of borreliosis infections caused by B. burgdorferi spirochaetes is increasing. Difficulties diagnosing this disease with conventional methods have led to growing molecular biology research aimed at developing improved diagnostic tools. Molecular biology methods include all techniques that allow the detection and analysis of nucleic acids. Among them there are methods based on PCR reaction, molecular typing methods (MLST), new generation sequencing (NGS). The current development of this field gives great research opportunities. With regard to B. burgdorferi spirochaete, molecular biology is used to: confirm Lyme borreliosis, identify and type Borreliella spirochaetes, detect them in tick vectors or intermediate hosts, as well as to identify co-infections between different Borreliella species and other tick-borne pathogens. They are meant to significantly improve diagnostic analyzes. This paper reviews the current methods used for the detection and identification of B. burgdorferi. Molecular mechanisms for the survival of spirochaetes in the host, infection vectors and clinical picture of Lyme disease were also discussed.

Importance of ticks in the transmission of selected bacterial pathogens of human diseases

“…Until recently, the main habitat for ticks was meadows and wooded areas. However, these arachnids are increasingly being seen in cities where people, through the promotion of healthy lifestyles, spend more time outdoors without adequate protection against ticks [2]. This phenomenon is also influenced by economics, population growth, and population fluctuations.…”