Borrelia prevalence and species distribution in ticks removed from humans in Germany, 2013–2017

This study investigated Borrelia prevalence and species distribution in ticks removed from humans and sent as diagnostic material to the Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, in 2013-2017. A probe-based real-time PCR was carried out and Borrelia-positive samples were subjected to species determination by reverse line blot (RLB), including a B. miyamotoi-specific probe. The overall Borrelia-infection rate as determined by real-time PCR was 20.02 % (510/2547, 95 % CI: 18.48–21.63 %), with annual prevalences ranging from 17.17 % (90/524, 95 % CI: 14.04–20.68 %) in 2014 to 24.12 % (96/398, 95 % CI: 19.99–28.63 %) in 2015. In total, 271/475 (57.1 %) positive samples available for RLB were successfully differentiated. Borrelia afzelii was detected in 30.53 % of cases (145/475, 95 % CI: 26.41–34.89), followed by B. garinii/B. bavariensis (13.26 % [63/475], 95 % CI: 10.34–16.65). Borrelia valaisiana occurred in 5.89 % (28/475, 95 % CI: 3.95–8.41), B. spielmanii in 4.63 % (22/475, 95 % CI: 2.93–6.93), B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.)/B. carolinensis in 2.32 % (11/475, 95 % CI: 1.16–4.11), B. lusitaniae in 0.63 % (3/475, 95 % CI: 0.13–1.83) and B. bisettiae in 0.42 % (2/475, 95 % CI: 0.05–1.51) of positive ticks. Borrelia kurtenbachii was not detected, while B. miyamotoi was identified in 7.37 % (35/475, 95 % CI: 5.19–10.10) of real-time PCR-positive samples. Sanger sequencing of B. garinii/B. bavariensis-positive ticks reveale...
Source: Ticks and Tick borne Diseases - Category: Zoology Source Type: research