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Updated: Mar 12, 2026
Detecting the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia Burgdorferi, in Ticks Using Nested PCR
Published on: February 4, 2018
Identification of I. ricinus, I. persulcatus and I. trianguliceps species by multiplex PCR
Kairi Värv1, Anna Ivanova2, Julia Geller2
1Department of Virology, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia; Department of Gene Technology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia; Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Zoonotic Science Center (ZSC), Uppsala University, Sweden.
Abstract:
Correct identification of tick species is an essential requirement for any scientific study engaged in tick-associated research. However, morphological identification can lead to misinterpretations, especially when dealing with vector-host research and sub-adult, engorged or damaged specimens. To overcome this limitation, we developed a novel assay to discriminate between Ixodes ricinus, I. persulcatus and I. trianguliceps species collected from rodents or vegetation, using the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) as a genetic marker. This single tube multiplex PCR allows specific amplification of targeted species and produces rapid and accurate results. The specificity was confirmed by sequencing the ITS2 and partial 16S rRNA genes from ticks collected from Estonia, Latvia, Sweden and Russia. We tested the assay in a large-scale experiment, and a total of 1284 ticks removed from rodents and shrews were successfully identified at species level.
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