Rapid identification of Borrelia by high resolution melting analysis of the groEL gene

This study examined the possibility of applying a new diagnostic method, high resolution analysis of DNA denaturation curve (high resolution melting - HRM), for identification of Borrelia species. DNA samples were obtained from Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from vegetation and removed from hunted roe deer. For differentiation of Borrelia species, the HRM protocol based on the analysis of the groEL gene was applied. A product characteristic for Borrelia was obtained in 19/123 samples (15.4%). The studied isolates were classified as four species: B. garinii, B. valaisiana, B. afzelii and B. miyamotoi. Two separate groups of isolates within the B. afzelii species were also found. The results show that the groEL gene is useful for rapid differentiation of B. burgdorferi sensu lato with the HRM method from different extracts of DNA and it also allows precise differentiation of Borrelia species and strains. The HRM method shortened and simplified detection and differentiation of Borrelia species from different biological sources.