First isolation and characterisation ofBorrelia garinii, agent of Lyme borreliosis, from Irish ticks

Abstract

Nymphal Ixodes ricinus, the tick vector of Lyme borreliosis, were collected from the edges of paths in Muckross Demesne, Killarney National Park, Co. Kerry, Ireland. Examination of some of these nymphs by indirect immunofluorescence showed an infection prevalence of 12% with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the spirochaete agent of Lyme borreliosis. Gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) were infected by infesting them with other nymphs from the same batch. Subsequently uninfected laboratory larvae were applied to the gerbils and the contents of the resulting infected engorged ticks were then placed in media and the spirochaetes cultured. The spirochaetes were identified as B. burgdorferi sensu lato by indirect immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibodies and they were further characterised by polymerase chain reaction and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Both of these latter techniques showed that spirochaetes in all samples belonged to the genomic species, Borrelia garinii.

Meta-analysis: A useful tool to assess infection prevalence and disease ecology of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in nymphal ticks in North-Western Europe with recommendations for a standardised approach to future studies

“…Of note, the papers which provided data for sites in Ireland ( Pichon et al, 2005 ; Gray et al, 2000 ; Gray et al, 1999 ; Kirstein et al, 1997a ; Kirstein et al, 1997b ; Gray et al, 1995 ; Gray et al, 1992 ; Gray et al, 1996 ) tended to be older (1992–2005) than those which provided data for sites in Scotland ( Millins et al, 2016 ; Curtin and Pennington, 1994 ; Millins et al, 2018 ; Bettridge et al, 2013 ) (1994–2018). As well as highlighting a gap in the more recent literature on environmental factors influencing NIP in Ireland, it could also be inferred that the date of sample collection had a bearing on the results of this analysis.…”

“…To reduce sample variability, only studies which sampled ticks in woodland habitats (the preferred habitat of ticks in Europe ( ECDC, 2014 )) on the Irish/Scottish mainland were included. Nineteen studies ( Zintl et al, 2017 ; Millins et al, 2016 ; Lambert et al, 2019 ; Pichon et al, 2003 ; Pichon et al, 2005 ; Gray et al, 2000 ; Gray et al, 1999 ; Kirstein et al, 1997a ; Kirstein et al, 1997b ; Gray et al, 1995 ; Gray et al, 1992 ; Gray et al, 1996 ; Curtin and Pennington, 1994 ; Davidson et al, 1999 ; James et al, 2014 ; James et al, 2013 ; Ling et al, 2000 ; Millins et al, 2018 ; Bettridge et al, 2013 ) met these criteria (Table1).…”

“…sites visits meeting inclusion criteria Data from this paper included in meta-analysis? Lambert et al, 2019 ( Lambert et al, 2019 ) Ireland 8 Yes 0 0 No Zintl et al, 2017 ( Zintl et al, 2017 ) Ireland 13 No 0 0 No Pichon et al, 2005 ( Pichon et al, 2005 ) Ireland 3 Yes 2 4 Yes Pichon et al, 2003 ( Pichon et al, 2003 ) Ireland 1 Yes 0 0 No Gray et al, 2000 ( Gray et al, 2000 ) Ireland 1 Yes 1 1 Yes Gray et al, 1999 ( Gray et al, 1999 ) Ireland 8 Yes 7 3 Yes Kirstein et al, 1997b ( Kirstein et al, 1997b ) Ireland 6 Yes 5 5 Yes Kirstein et al, 1997a ( Kirstein et al, 1997a ) Ireland 5 Yes 3 3 Yes Gray et al, 1996 ( Gray et al, 1996 ) Ireland 1 Yes 1 1 Yes Gray et al, 1995 ( Gray et al, 1995 ) Ireland 24 Yes 7 7 Yes Gray et al, 1992 ( …”

A cross-sectional study of small mammals for tick-borne pathogen infection in northern Mongolia

“…[28] and Mongolian gerbils have historically been used in experimental studies as reservoirs for Borrelia spp. [29,30] suggesting that they too could be competant reservoirs.…”