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Detection and genetic identification of Borrelia lusitaniae in questing Ixodes inopinatus tick from Tunisia

Authors :
Rachid Selmi
Khaoula Abdi
Hanène Belkahia
Meriem Ben Abdallah
Aymen Mamlouk
Myriam Kratou
Mourad Ben Said
Lilia Messadi
Source :
Infectious Medicine, Vol 3, Iss 1, Pp 100093- (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
Elsevier, 2024.

Abstract

Background: Until now, there has been limited information on the prevalence and the phylogeny of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Ixodes ticks in Tunisia, particularly in Ixodes inopinatus. Methods: The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and the phylogeny of B. burgdorferi s.l., in coexisted I. ricinus and I. inopinatus ticks collected from Northern Tunisia. One hundred questig ticks were collected during winter 2020 by tick-dragging method in Beja gouvernorate located in the north of Tunisia. Real-time PCR panel targeting B. burgdorferi s.l. 23S rRNA gene were performed. Positive DNA samples were subjected to conventional PCRs targeting 457 bp fragment of the Borrelia sp. flagellin (fla) gene using primers FlaF/FlaR. The identified Borrelia sp. isolate underwent partial sequence analysis to determine genospecies and evaluate their phylogenetic position. Results: The study revealed a prevalence rate of 28% (28/100) for B. burgdorferi sensu lato in the Ixodes ticks. The prevalence rates across tick species and genders did not show significant variations (p > 0.05). Interestingly, the study underlines the coexistence of I. inopinatus and I. ricinus sharing the same geographic areas in Northern Tunisia. Furthermore, DNA of B. lusitaniae was detected in I. inopinatus ticks for the first time in Tunisia. Revealed B. lusitaniae bacterium is similar to previously identified strains in Mediterranean region, but distinct from those isolated exclusively from countries of Eastern and Central Europe, such as Serbia, Romania, and Poland. This study highlights the prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in I. ricinus/I. inopinatus ticks, and reveals B. lusitaniae in I. inopinatus ticks for the first time in Tunisia. Conclusion: These findings suggest the involvement of I. inopinatus as a potential vector of this pathogenic genospeciess in Tunisia. This may help understanding the ecology of Ixodes ticks, the natural infection and the transmission dynamics of Borrelia species in this country.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2772431X
Volume :
3
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Infectious Medicine
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.27b3bdffa1346268bf9fdcdb7ea4925
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imj.2024.100093