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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
08:23
Feeding of Ticks on Animals for Transmission and Xenodiagnosis in Lyme Disease Research
Published on: August 31, 2013
Multilocus sequence typing implicates rodents as the main reservoir host of human-pathogenic Borrelia garinii in
Ai Takano1, Minoru Nakao, Toshiyuki Masuzawa
1Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|March 18, 2011
Abstract:
Multilocus sequence typing of Borrelia garinii isolates from humans and comparison with rodent and tick isolates were performed. Fifty-nine isolates were divided into two phylogenetic groups, and an association was detected between clinical and rodent isolates, suggesting that, in Japan, human-pathogenic B. garinii comes from rodents via ticks.
Insights
This study traced Borrelia garinii strains from humans in Japan. Findings suggest rodents are the source of human infections transmitted by ticks.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Borrelia garinii is a significant pathogen causing Lyme disease.
- Understanding the transmission dynamics of Borrelia garinii is crucial for public health.
- Phylogenetic analysis aids in tracing pathogen origins and transmission routes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the genetic diversity of Borrelia garinii isolates from human cases in Japan.
- To compare these human isolates with Borrelia garinii found in local rodents and ticks.
- To elucidate the primary reservoir and transmission pathway of Borrelia garinii in Japan.
Main Methods:
- Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was employed to analyze the genetic profiles of Borrelia garinii isolates.
- Isolates were sourced from human patients, rodents, and ticks collected in Japan.
- Phylogenetic analysis was conducted to group the isolates based on their genetic relatedness.
Main Results:
- Fifty-nine Borrelia garinii isolates were successfully typed.
- The isolates clustered into two distinct phylogenetic groups.
- A significant association was observed between isolates from human clinical cases and those from rodent hosts.
Conclusions:
- The genetic data strongly suggest that rodents serve as the primary reservoir for Borrelia garinii in Japan.
- Human infections with Borrelia garinii in Japan are likely acquired through the bite of infected ticks that have fed on rodents.
- This finding highlights the importance of rodent control and tick-bite prevention in managing Lyme disease in the region.
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