The pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi causes Lymenext term Borreliosis in human and animals world-wide. In Europe the pathogen is transmitted to the host by the vector Ixodes ricinus. The nymph is the primary instar for transmission to humans.
We here study the infection rate of five Borrelia genospecies: B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. afzelii, B. garinii, B. valaisiana, B. lusitaniae in nymphs, by IFA and PCR. 600 nymphs were collected in North Zealand of Denmark.
Each nymph was first analysed by IFA. If positive for spirochaetal infection, the genospecies was determined by PCR.
The infection rate of B. burgdorferi sensu lato was 15.5%, with the primary genospecies being B. afzelii (64.3%), B. garinii (57.1%), and B. lusitaniae (26.8%).
It is the first time B. lusitaniae is documented in Denmark.
Even though, the highest infection rate was discovered for B. afzelii and B. garinii, mixed infections are more common than single infections.
Fifty-one percent (29/56) of these were infected with two genospecies, 7.1% (4/56) with three, and 5.3% (3/56) with four.
We try to explain the high infection rate and the peculiar number of multiple infections, with a discussion of changes host abundance and occurrence of different transmission patterns.
J. Vennestr�ma, Corresponding Author Contact Information, 1, E-mail The Corresponding Author, H. Egholmb and P.M. Jensenb aSection for Genetics and Microbiology, Department of Ecology, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg, Denmark bSection for Zoology, Department of Ecology, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg, Denmark Received 21 July 2006; revised 17 July 2007; accepted 19 July 2007. Available online 1 August 2007.
[ 15. December 2007, 02:53 PM: Message edited by: AliG ]
Posted by Greatcod (Member # 7002) on :
interesting. I asked my LLMD the B.afzelii and B.garanii..he said that no one knew, they are never tested for. It interest me in a couple of ways, the first being that the European strains produce a different pattern of infection, with less arthritis, and more neuroLyme. That might account for some of the presention differences recognized by ILADS doctors and the IDSA crowd. The second way is if the euro strains are here, they probably got introduced via Plum Island. Steere totally neglected the European Lyme literature in early work. maybe purposefully so.
Posted by northstar (Member # 7911) on :
Canlyme has an article stating that European strains had been found on ticks from seagulls on one of their Eastern islands.
Clark (some university in southern U.S.) has done dna analysis of sensu stricto, and found that portions of the dna are of afzelli and garinii strains, although it is sensu stricto overall.
Most interesting is that European countries are adopting IDSA guidelines, despite the studies showing the general difference in symptomology between European and U.S. (northeastern strains).
I doubt if IDSA looked beyond the northeast for anything that may refute or compromise their pre-arranged "Lyme Guidelines for Dummies".
Northstar
Posted by Walnut (Member # 6585) on :
Not good. This is where I grew up.
I find it so interesting that Europeans are well aware of the multiple strains of Bb, while IDSA doctors continue to insist that only one strain of Bb infects humans in the U.S.
Clearly there are many different strains of Bb and they do infect humans. The only reason why no one test positive for these other strains is that there are no commercial tests for them.
When Lyme disease was first (re)discovered in Lyme, CT it was identified as a arthritis condition, and IDSA continue to insist that neurological symptoms are rare. Nonetheless, I have mostly neurological symptoms, and so do most of the people in the mid-atlantic region I know who have persistent lyme disease. Could it be we have a different strain?
[ 15. December 2007, 10:39 AM: Message edited by: Walnut ]
Posted by Walnut (Member # 6585) on :
I find it interesting that "The infection rate of ...and B. lusitaniae (26.8%). It is the first time B. lusitaniae is documented in Denmark."
With an tick infection rate of 26.8%, B. lusitaiae is not exactly rare!