Delineation of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Stricto, Borrelia garinii sp. nov., and Group VS461 Associated with Lyme Borreliosis

Abstract

We studied 48 Borreliu isolates that were associated with Lyme borreliosis or were isolated from ticks and identified three DNA relatedness groups by using the S1 nuclease method. The three DNA groups (genospecies) were associated with specific rRNA gene restriction patterns, protein electrophoresis patterns, and patterns of reactivity with murine monoclonal antibodies. Genospecies I corresponded to Borreliu burgdorfen' sensu stricto since it contained the type strain of this species (strain ATCC 35210); this genospecies included 28 isolates from Europe and the United States. Genospecies I1 was named Borrelia garinii sp. nov. and included 13 isolates from Europe and Japan. Genospecies I11 (group VS461) included seven isolates from Europe and Japan.

Infection of Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in North Africa

“…Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is now known to include at least 5 genospecies associated with I. ricinus: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia valaisiana (formerly genospecies VS116), and Borrelia lusitaniae (formerly genospecies PotiB2) (Baranton et al 1992;Canica et al 1993;Postic et al 1994Postic et al , 1997Le Flè che et al 1997;Wang et al 1997). The geographical distribution of I. ricinus covers southern Scandinavia, the British Isles, Central Europe, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Balkans, East Europe, northern Iran, and North Africa Rodhain 1977, Stanek et al 1988).…”

Borrelia burgdorferi complement regulator-acquiring surface proteins (BbCRASPs): Expression patterns during the mammal–tick infection cycle

“…into several genospecies, with names including B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.), B. garinii, B. spielmanii, B. afzelii, and others (Baranton et al, 1992;LeFleche et al, 1997). Since this review primarily discusses the CRASPs of B. burgdorferi s.s., for clarity in reading we will refer to that organism as B. burgdorferi and to Lyme disease spirochetes in general as B. burgdorferi s.l.…”

Biology of Infection with Borrelia burgdorferi

“…In Europe and Asia, the three species of Borrelia responsible for most human cases of disease are B. burgdorferi sensu strictu (s.s.), B. garinii and B. afzelii, which are collectively referred to as B. burgdorferi sensu lato [9]. Lyme disease in the U.S. is caused by the single species B. burgdorferi s.s.…”