engleski

Isolation and cultivation of Borrelia species isolated from ticks

The hard tick Ixodes ricinus is a frequent carrier of human pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi, Rickettsia helvetica, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). 149 ticks were collected in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland, by the cloth-dragging method and analysed by real-time PCR for the presence and identity of Borrelia genospecies, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia helvetica. In addition, strains of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii and Borrelia valaisiana were isolated from Ixodes ricinus ticks and used to infect human endothelial cells. Of the 149 ticks investigated, 62 were infected with Rickettsia helvetica, 24 with Borrelia afzelii, 16 with Borrelia garinii, 8 with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and 2 with Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Coinfection of Borrelia genospecies and Rickettsia helvetica was detected in ticks. Prevalence data for Borrelia, Rickettsia and Anaplasma in ticks can be used to asses the risk of tick-borne dieseases for public health. Interaction of the Lyme disease spirochete with cultured human endothelial cells was investigated to determine the adherence and intracellular growth of Borrelia burgdorferi strains. Our results demonstrated that Borrelia burgdorferi genospecies have been found frequently in ticks and that Borrelia strains incubated with the human cells became attached and internalized.

Ixodes ricinus; Borrelia burgdorferi; Isolation; Cultivation; Rickettsia helvetica; Anaplasma phagocytophilum; tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV)

nije evidentirano