Abstract

Bacteria of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex are the causative agents of Lyme borreliosis (LB). Even if the conventional diagnosis of LB does not rely on the species itself, an accurate species identification within the complex will provide a deepened epidemiological scenario, a better diagnosis leading to a more targeted therapeutic approach, as well as promote the general public's awareness. A comparative genomics approach based on the 210 Borrelia spp. genomes available in 2019 were used to set up three species-specific PCR protocols, able to detect and provide species typing of Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.) and Borrelia garinii, the three most common and important human pathogenic Lyme Borrelia species in Europe. The species-specificity of these protocols was confirmed on previously identified B. afzelii, B. burgdorferi s.s. and B. garinii specimens detected in Ixodes ricinus samples. In addition, the protocols were validated on 120 DNA samples from ticks collected in Sweden, showing 88% accuracy, 100% precision, 72% sensitivity and 100% specificity. The proposed approach represents an innovative tool in epidemiological studies focused on B. burgdorferi s.l. occurrence in ticks, and future studies could suggest its helpfulness in routine diagnostic tests for health care.

Keywords

Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato; molecular typing; real time-PCR; Ixodes

Published in

Pathogens
2022, Volume: 11, number: 11, article number: 1234
Publisher: MDPI

SLU Authors

• Kjellander, Petter

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Grandi, Giulio

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • National Veterinary Institute SVA

UKÄ Subject classification

Microbiology
Biological Systematics


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11111234

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/120170