The presence of Borrelia theileri in Argentina.

Authors :: Morel N
De Salvo MN
Cicuttin G
Rossner V
Thompson CS
Mangold AJ
Nava S
Source :: Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports [Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports] 2019 Aug; Vol. 17, pp. 100314. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Jun 13.
Publication Year :: 2019
Abstract: The presence of Borrelia theileri in Argentina is confirmed after recording the spirochete from a bovine in northern Argentina. The analysis of sequences of the flagellin gene (fla) and length of Borrelia spp. specimens on thick blood films shows that the local isolate clusters within a well-supported clade with B. theileri isolates from different geographical origins, confirming the presence of B. theileri in Argentina. The mean length of 30 specimens of B. theileri was 12.89 μm (standard deviation 2.88 μm, range 9.35-20.16 μm). The only known vector of Borrelia theileri in northern Argentina is the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus, therefore Borrelia infection should be regarded as a potential complication of other cattle tick-borne diseases such as babesiosis, especially on cattle introduced from areas free of R. microplus. The possibility of serologic cross-reaction with B. theileri must not be minimized in studies of other spirochaetes in the R. microplus infested region of Argentina.<br /> (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)