Distribution and characterization of Borrelia burgdorferi isolates from Ixodes scapularis and presence in mammalian hosts in Ontario, Canada.
Abstract: The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae), has a wide geographical distribution in Ontario, Canada, with a detected range extending at least as far north as the 50th parallel. Our data of 591 adult I. scapularis submissions collected from domestic animals (canines, felines, and equines) and humans during a 10-yr period (1993-2002) discloses a monthly questing activity in Ontario that peaks in May and October. The Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi Johnson, Schmidt, Hyde, Steigerwalt & Brenner was detected in 12.9% of I. scapularis adults collected from domestic hosts with no history of out-of-province travel or exposure at a Lyme disease endemic area. Fifty-three isolates of B. burgdorferi were confirmed positive with polymerase chain reaction by targeting the rrf (5S)-rrl (23S) gene. Using DNA sequencing of the ribosomal species-specific rrf (5S) -rrl (23S) intergenic spacer region, all isolates belong to the pathogenic genospecies B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.). Nucleotide sequence analysis of a 218- to 220-bp amplicon fragment exhibits six cluster patterns and, collectively, these isolates branch into four phylogenetic cluster groups for both untraveled, mammalian hosts and those with travel to the northeastern United States (New Jersey and New York). Four of five geographic regions in Ontario had strain variants consisting of three different genomic cluster groups. Overall, our molecular characterization of B. burgdorferi s.s. shows genetic heterogeneity within Ontario and displays a connecting link to common strains from Lyme disease endemic areas in the northeastern United States. Moreover, our findings of B. burgdorferi in I. scapularis reveal that people and domestic animals may be exposed to Lyme disease vector ticks, which have wide-ranging distribution in eastern and central Canada.
Publication Date: 2006-08-09 PubMed ID: 16892637DOI: 10.1603/0022-2585(2006)43[762:DACOBB]2.0.CO;2Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article investigates the geographical distribution and genetic characterization of Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, in the blacklegged tick and its presence in animal hosts within Ontario, Canada.
Study Background
- The study centers on the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis), known to carry Lyme disease, and its geographical spread in Ontario, Canada.
- The research analysis utilized data collected over a ten-year period, specifically on I. scapularis specimens gathered from domestic animals and humans.
- The aim of the study was to monitor the activity patterns of these ticks, track the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi, and examine genetic variations within the bacteria.
Findings and Observations
- The study found that the blacklegged ticks show peak questing activity (the process by which they seek hosts) in May and October.
- The Lyme disease bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, was present in 12.9% of the I. scapularis adults collected from domestic hosts. These hosts had no recorded history of traveling outside the province or exposure to Lyme disease endemic areas.
- Fifty-three isolates of B. burgdorferi were confirmed positive through polymerase chain reaction, a molecular biology technique used for detection and replication of specific DNA sequences.
Genetic Characterization
- Through sequence analysis of the bacteria’s DNA, it was found that all isolates belonged to the pathogenic species B. burgdorferi sensu stricto.
- The isolates exhibited six different cluster patterns and branched into four phylogenetic cluster groups.
- They discovered that three different genomic cluster groups of the bacteria existed across four of the five studied geographical regions in Ontario.
Conclusions and Implications
- The genetic characterization of B. burgdorferi demonstrated genetic heterogeneity within Ontario and showed a connection to common strains found in Lyme disease endemic areas in the northeastern United States.
- This implies potential migratory patterns or ecological similarities enabling the spread of the bacteria.
- The presence of B. burgdorferi in I. scapularis indicates that humans and domestic animals might be exposed to Lyme disease, given the wide distribution of tick vectors in eastern and central Canada.
Cite This Article
APA
Morshed MG, Scott JD, Fernando K, Geddes G, McNabb A, Mak S, Durden LA.
(2006).
Distribution and characterization of Borrelia burgdorferi isolates from Ixodes scapularis and presence in mammalian hosts in Ontario, Canada.
J Med Entomol, 43(4), 762-773.
https://doi.org/10.1603/0022-2585(2006)43[762:DACOBB]2.0.CO;2 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Laboratory Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Ave., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4R4. mmorshed@interchange.ubc.ca
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arachnid Vectors / microbiology
- Arachnid Vectors / physiology
- Borrelia burgdorferi / classification
- Borrelia burgdorferi / genetics
- Borrelia burgdorferi / isolation & purification
- Cats
- DNA, Bacterial / chemistry
- DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / genetics
- Dogs
- Female
- Genetic Variation
- Geography
- Horses
- Humans
- Ixodes / microbiology
- Ixodes / physiology
- Lyme Disease / epidemiology
- Lyme Disease / microbiology
- Male
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Ontario / epidemiology
- Peromyscus
- Phylogeny
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Lewis J, Kirby AM, Harris KD, Filiaggi CL, Foley-Eby A, Mann M, Lieske D, Lloyd VK. Monitoring Risk: Tick and Borrelia burgdorferi Public Participatory Surveillance in the Canadian Maritimes, 2012-2020.. Pathogens 2021 Oct 6;10(10).
- Couper LI, MacDonald AJ, Mordecai EA. Impact of prior and projected climate change on US Lyme disease incidence.. Glob Chang Biol 2021 Feb;27(4):738-754.
- Scott JD, Clark KL, Coble NM, Ballantyne TR. Detection and Transstadial Passage of Babesia Species and Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Ticks Collected from Avian and Mammalian Hosts in Canada.. Healthcare (Basel) 2019 Dec 2;7(4).
- Schillberg E, Lunny D, Lindsay LR, Nelder MP, Russell C, Mackie M, Coats D, Berry A, Young Hoon KN. Distribution of Ixodes scapularis in Northwestern Ontario: Results from Active and Passive Surveillance Activities in the Northwestern Health Unit Catchment Area.. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2018 Oct 11;15(10).
- Scott JD, Foley JE, Anderson JF, Clark KL, Durden LA. Detection of Lyme Disease Bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, in Blacklegged Ticks Collected in the Grand River Valley, Ontario, Canada.. Int J Med Sci 2017;14(2):150-158.
- Scott JD, Foley JE, Clark KL, Anderson JF, Durden LA, Manord JM, Smith ML. Established Population of Blacklegged Ticks with High Infection Prevalence for the Lyme Disease Bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato, on Corkscrew Island, Kenora District, Ontario.. Int J Med Sci 2016;13(11):881-891.
- Scott JD, Anderson JF, Durden LA, Smith ML, Manord JM, Clark KL. Prevalence of the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, in Blacklegged Ticks, Ixodes scapularis at Hamilton-Wentworth, Ontario.. Int J Med Sci 2016;13(5):316-24.
- Khatchikian CE, Nadelman RB, Nowakowski J, Schwartz I, Levy MZ, Brisson D, Wormser GP. Public health impact of strain specific immunity to Borrelia burgdorferi.. BMC Infect Dis 2015 Oct 26;15:472.
- Gonçalves DD, Moura RA, Nunes M, Carreira T, Vidotto O, Freitas JC, Vieira ML. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in humans in a rural area of Paraná State, Brazil.. Braz J Microbiol 2015 Jun;46(2):571-5.
- Burbelo PD, Bren KE, Ching KH, Coleman A, Yang X, Kariu T, Iadarola MJ, Pal U. Antibody profiling of Borrelia burgdorferi infection in horses.. Clin Vaccine Immunol 2011 Sep;18(9):1562-7.
- Cockwill KR, Taylor SM, Snead EC, Dickinson R, Cosford K, Malek S, Lindsay LR, Diniz PP. Granulocytic anaplasmosis in three dogs from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.. Can Vet J 2009 Aug;50(8):835-40.
- . The laboratory diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis: Guidelines from the Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network.. Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol 2007 Mar;18(2):145-8.
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