Detection of four species ofBorrelia burgdorferisensu lato inIxodes ricinusticks collected from roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in the Netherlands

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Summary: Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) were investigated for their value as sentinel animals for Lyme borreliosis in the Netherlands. Serum was obtained from 114 roe deer, and 513Ixodes ricinus, predominantly females (72%), were obtained from 47 animals (41%). The polymerase chain reaction was used to detect DNA ofBorrelia burgdorferisensu lato in a total of 190 ticks, comprising 106 engorged ticks and 84 non-engorged ticks. Borrelia DNA was detected in 24 engorged ticks (23%) and 26 non-engorged ticks (31%). This difference was not significant (P = 0·25). Four species ofB. burgdorferisensu lato were identified in the ticks:B. burgdorferisensu stricto,Borrelia garinii, Borrelia afzeliiand group VS116.B. afzeliiwas most commonly found and present in 13 mixed infections, and in 28 single infections. Fifteen sera (13%) contained antibodies toBorreliaspp. Ticks are more appropriate sentinel animals for Lyme borreliosis than roe deer, an important host forI. ricinus. Although the viability of borrelia spirochaetes in engorged ticks collected from roe deer was not assessed, a bloodmeal taken from roe deer did not eliminate borrelia spirochaetes from the tick. The relevance of this finding for transovarial transmission of borrelia spirochaetes in ticks is discussed.