Journal
EXPERIMENTAL AND APPLIED ACAROLOGY
Volume 54, Issue 3, Pages 293-300Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s10493-011-9438-4
Keywords
Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato; Ixodes ricinus; Ticks; Lyme disease; PCR-RLB; Romania
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Funding
- EU [GOCE-2003-010284]
- EDEN Steering Committee [EDEN0246]
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In this study 1,868 questing Ixodes ricinus ticks (nymphs and adults), collected in six sites from three counties-Giurgiu, Sibiu, and Tulcea-in Romania, were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by reverse line blot (RLB) for detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato presence. The bacteria were found in 18% of the investigated ticks. The prevalence of infection did not differ significantly between nymphs (19.1%) and adults (15.4%). Three B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies were detected: B. afzelii (61.1%), B. garinii (31.2%), and B. valaisiana (7.7%). No mixed infections were detected. The highest infection prevalence in nymphs was detected at Cristian (Sibiu County)-22.0%, whereas in adults it was at Comana (Giurgiu County)-19.8%. This preliminary study provides evidence that Lyme disease spirochetes are present in various regions of Romania, and at a relatively high prevalence in their vectors, thus posing a risk of infection to human subjects in the areas infested by ticks.
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