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 ]
-------------------- Note: I'm NOT a medical professional. The information I share is from my own personal research and experience. Please do not construe anything I share as medical advice, which should only be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner. Posts: 4881 | From Middlesex County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2006
| IP: Logged |
Greatcod
Unregistered
posted
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.
IP: Logged |
northstar
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7911
posted
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
Posts: 1331 | From hither and yonder | Registered: Sep 2005
| IP: Logged |
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 ]
Posts: 187 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Dec 2004
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic