Vector competence of Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) for three genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi

• Published in: Journal of medical entomology Vol. 35; no. 4; pp. 465 - 470
• Main Authors: Dolan, M.C. (National Centers for Infectious Diseases, Fort Collins, CO.), Piesman, J, Mbow, M.L, Maupin, G.O, Peter, O, Brossard, M, Golde, W.T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lanham, MD Entomological Society of America 01-07-1998
• Subjects: Animals; Arachnid Vectors - microbiology; Biological and medical sciences; BORRELIA; BORRELIA AFZELII; BORRELIA BURGDORFERI; Borrelia burgdorferi Group; BORRELIA GARINII; BORRELIOSE; BORRELIOSIS; DISEASE VECTORS; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; INFECCION; INFECTION; Ixodes - microbiology; IXODES RICINUS; IXODES SCAPULARIS; Ixodidae; Medically important nuisances and vectors, pests of stored products and materials: population survey and control; MICE; Mice, Inbred ICR; Rabbits; RATON; SOURIS; VECTEUR DE MALADIE; VECTORES; VECTORS; Vectors. Intermediate hosts; Parasitiformes; Lyme disease; Borrelia burgdorferi; Spirochaetaceae; Spirochaetales; Borrelia infection; Ixodes scapularis; Infection; Arachnida; Acari; Ixodida; Arthropoda; Pathogenic; Infectivity; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Ectoparasite; Ixodes ricinus; Invertebrata; Vector; Ixodidae; Spirachaetosis
• ISSN: 0022-2585; 1938-2928
• DOI: 10.1093/jmedent/35.4.465

The vector competence of 2 tick species, Ixodes ricinus (L.) and Ixodes scapularis Say, was determined and compared for 3 genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi. The 3 genospecies of B. burgdorferi used in the following experiments were Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (B-31 and B-31.D1 clone), Borrelia afzelii (strain Pgau.C3), and Borrelia garinii (strain VS286 and VSBP). Spirochetes from all 5 strains were inoculated intradermally into outbred mice; larval ticks of both species were subsequently fed on those mice and replete larvae were assayed for infection by culture in BSK-H media every 7 d for 4 wk. Infection frequencies in I. scapularis exposed to the 5 strains were as follows: B-31 (90%), B-31.D1 (83%), Pgau.C3 (87%), VS286 (10%), and VSBP (5%). The comparable infection frequencies for I. ricinus were B-31 (3%), B-31.D1 (3%), Pgau.C3 (90%), VS286 (5%), and VSBP (3%). Resultant nymphal I. scapularis successfully transmitted B-31, B-31.D1, Pgau.C3, and VS286 to outbred mice. I. ricinus nymphs transmitted Pgau.C3 and VS286. Both species failed to transmit strain VSBP