Borrelia lusitaniae

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Borrelia lusitaniae
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Spirochaetota
Class: Spirochaetia
Order: Spirochaetales
Family: Borreliaceae
Genus: Borrelia
Species:
B. lusitaniae
Binomial name
Borrelia lusitaniae
Le Fleche et al., 1997

Borrelia lusitaniae is a bacterium of the spirochete class of the genus Borrelia, which has a diderm (double-membrane) envelope. [1] It is a part of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies [2] and is a Gram-negative bacterium. B. lusitaniae is tick-borne; he type strain is PotiB2. [1] It can be pathogenic, being involved in cases of Lyme borreliosis. [3] [4] [5] A species of tick, Ixodes ricinus , is the host of B. lusitaniae. It is thought to have originated from Portugal and has since spread to parts of Europe and North Africa. Lizards of the family Lacertidae are now believed to be important reservoir hosts of this bacterium. [2]

Contents

Origin and distribution

While B. lusitaniae is distributed throughout countries in Europe and North Africa, it is the sole species of the Lyme borreliosis group in southern Portugal. Lizards of the family Lacertidae are believed to be important reservoir hosts of B. lusitaniae. [2] They were first isolated in Portugal in 1993. [3] These lizards that include the sand lizard and common wall lizard [6] are known to be highly structured phylogeographically. Migration is very limited between the lizard populations from different localities and it has shed light into the evolution and epidemiology of B. lusitaniae. The pronounced population structure of B. lusitaniae over a short geographic distance (southern Portugal) by housekeeping genes indicates that the migration rates of B. lusitaniae are rather low, because the distribution of Mediterranean lizard populations is highly parapatric. [2]

Different populations of B. lusitaniae are known. Seven strains of B. lusitaniaesp. nov. have been isolated from Ixodes ricinus ticks in Portugal, the Czech Republic, Moldavia, Ukraine, and Belarus. [1] [7] Local populations have diverged through vicariance, because climate change after the last ice age generated ecological barriers between Mafra and Grândola. In more northern or eastern countries, B. lusitaniae has been detected at only a few sites, at which it infects ticks less frequently than it does on the Mediterranean coast, [6] although in Morocco and Tunisia, 96.6-100% of the Borrelia species present were B. lusitaniae. [7]

In lizards

Because lizards are considered important reservoir hosts of B. lusitaniae, their limited dispersal affects the migration rates of B. lusitaniae. This results in the fine-scale geographic structure of this tick-borne bacterium. Although I. ricinus ticks infected with B. lusitaniae may be dispersed rapidly over long distances when feeding on mobile hosts, such as migratory birds, this is unlikely to be an important process in the effective dispersal of B. lusitaniae. [8] Feeding tick larvae apparently do not acquire B. lusitaniae from vertebrate species other than lizards. However, B. lusitaniae-infected nymphs that feed on long-distance migrants give rise to hunting adult ticks that subsequently feed on larger animals, such as deer, which are not reservoir-competent for any of the species of the Lyme borreliosis group of spirochetes. Therefore, only larvae and nymphs that feed on lizards maintain the cycles of B. lusitaniae. So, the migration rates of B. lusitaniae are determined by those of lizards. [8]

In humans

To date, the reservoir of B. lusitaniae has not been fully defined, and little is known about the ecology of this genospecies. It is known to cause experimental disease in mouse models, suggesting that some strains could also be connected with human Lyme borreliosis. The first known isolate of Borrelia was in Portugal. A 46-year-old woman from the Lisbon area presented with skin lesions on her left thigh that had persisted about 10 years. [3] [7] Molecular analysis of the patient isolate allowed the classification of the strain to B. lusitaniae, a genospecies previously thought to be nonpathogenic in humans [7] The woman had a weak serological response, which is present in a high percentage of patients with unspecific and long-lasting skin manifestations. This suggests a clinical pattern for B. lusitaniae different from those for other Borrelia spp. in the Portuguese population compared to date . [3]

Plasmids

The plasmid profiles of B. lusitaniae strains usually range from 19 to 76 kb. [8] In the case of B. lusitaniae, the number of plasmids is quite low and the species lacks all the small plasmids described for the other Borrelia species with medical importance in Lyme borreliosis. Because most of the Borrelia virulence genes are located on plasmids, including genes that encode for OspC, Erps, and CRASP proteins, the low number of these genetic elements in B. lusitaniae strains could be associated with the lower infectivity reported for this species since only two human isolates have been found so far. Furthermore, the number (0.04/100,000 inhabitants) of reported cases in Portugal is not as high as in other European countries despite a high reported infection prevalence of B. lusitaniae in ticks. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spirochaete</span> Phylum of bacteria

A spirochaete or spirochete is a member of the phylum Spirochaetota, which contains distinctive diderm (double-membrane) gram-negative bacteria, most of which have long, helically coiled cells. Spirochaetes are chemoheterotrophic in nature, with lengths between 3 and 500 μm and diameters around 0.09 to at least 3 μm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lyme disease</span> Infectious disease caused by Borrelia bacteria, spread by ticks

Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is a vector-borne disease caused by the Borrelia bacterium, which is spread by ticks in the genus Ixodes. The most common sign of infection is an expanding red rash, known as erythema migrans (EM), which appears at the site of the tick bite about a week afterwards. The rash is typically neither itchy nor painful. Approximately 70–80% of infected people develop a rash. Early diagnosis can be difficult. Other early symptoms may include fever, headaches and tiredness. If untreated, symptoms may include loss of the ability to move one or both sides of the face, joint pains, severe headaches with neck stiffness or heart palpitations. Months to years later repeated episodes of joint pain and swelling may occur. Occasionally shooting pains or tingling in the arms and legs may develop. Despite appropriate treatment, about 10 to 20% of those affected develop joint pains, memory problems and tiredness for at least six months.

<i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> Species of bacteria

Borrelia burgdorferi is a bacterial species of the spirochete class in the genus Borrelia, and is one of the causative agents of Lyme disease in humans. Along with a few similar genospecies, some of which also cause Lyme disease, it makes up the species complex of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. The complex currently comprises 20 accepted and 3 proposed genospecies. B. burgdorferi sensu stricto exists in North America and Eurasia and until 2016 was the only known cause of Lyme disease in North America. Borrelia species are Gram-negative.

<i>Borrelia</i> Genus of bacteria

Borrelia is a genus of bacteria of the spirochete phylum. Several species cause Lyme disease, also called Lyme borreliosis, a zoonotic, vector-borne disease transmitted by ticks. Other species of Borrelia cause relapsing fever, and are transmitted by ticks or lice, depending on the species of bacteria. A few Borrelia species as Candidatus Borrelia mahuryensis harbor intermediate genetic features between Lyme disease and relapsing fever Borrelia. The genus is named after French biologist Amédée Borrel (1867–1936), who first documented the distinction between a species of Borrelia, B. anserina, and the other known type of spirochete at the time, Treponema pallidum. This bacterium must be viewed using dark-field microscopy, which make the cells appear white against a dark background. Borrelia species are grown in Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly medium. Of 52 known species of Borrelia, 20 are members of the Lyme disease group, 29 belong to the relapsing fever group, and two are members of a genetically distinct third group typically found in reptiles. A proposal has been made to split the Lyme disease group based on genetic diversity and move them to their own genus, Borelliella, but this change is not widely accepted. This bacterium uses hard and soft ticks and lice as vectors. Testing for the presence of the bacteria in a human includes two-tiered serological testing, including immunoassays and immunoblotting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lyme disease microbiology</span>

Lyme disease, or borreliosis, is caused by spirochetal bacteria from the genus Borrelia, which has 52 known species. Three main species are the main causative agents of the disease in humans, while a number of others have been implicated as possibly pathogenic. Borrelia species in the species complex known to cause Lyme disease are collectively called Borrelia burgdorferisensu lato (s.l.) not to be confused with the single species in that complex Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto which is responsible for nearly all cases of Lyme disease in North America.

Borrelia anserina is a helical spirochete bacterium with dimensions around 8-20/0,2-0,3 μm and with five to eight spirals. Their mobility is very high. B. anserina can be colored with the May Grunwald-Giemsa method.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern tick-associated rash illness</span> Medical condition

Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI) is an emerging infectious disease related to Lyme disease that occurs in southeastern and south-central United States. It is spread by tick bites and it was hypothesized that the illness was caused by the bacteria Borrelia lonestari. However, there is insufficient evidence to declare this Borrelia strain as a causative agent.

Borrelia afzelii is a species of Borrelia a bacterium that can infect various species of vertebrates and invertebrates.

<i>Ornithodoros moubata</i> Species of tick

Ornithodoros moubata, commonly known as the African hut tampan or the eyeless tampan, is a species of tick in the family Argasidae. It is an ectoparasite and vector of relapsing fever in humans, and African swine fever in pigs.

Borrelia miyamotoi is a bacterium of the spirochete phylum in the genus Borrelia. A zoonotic organism, B. miyamotoi can infect humans through the bite of several species of hard-shell Ixodes ticks, the same kind of ticks that spread B. burgdorferi, the causative bacterium of Lyme disease. Ixodes ticks are also the primary vector in the spread of babesiosis and anaplasmosis.

Borrelia spielmanii is a spirochete bacterium; it routinely infects Ixodes ricinus, and subsequently humans, causing Lyme disease.

Leptospirillum ferriphilum is an iron-oxidising bacterium. It is one of the species responsible for the generation of acid mine drainage. It is of particular relevance in South African commercial biooxidation tanks operating at 40 °C.

Borrelia bissettiae is a spirochete bacterium. The type strain is strain DN127. It is pathogenic and causes Lyme borreliosis in the Americas and Eurasia.

Borrelia kurtenbachii is a spirochete bacterium; it can be pathogenic, being involved in cases of Lyme borreliosis.

Borrelia andersonii is a spirochete bacterium. It can be pathogenic, being involved in cases of Lyme borreliosis.

Borrelia sinica is a spirochete bacterium. Its cells contain only four periplasmic flagella inserted at each end of the spirochaetes, differing from other Borrelia species. It is associated with Lyme disease. CMN3T is the type strain of this species.

Borrelia carolinensis is a spirochete bacterium associated with Lyme disease.

Borrelia coriaceae is a species of spirochete bacteria and member of the genus Borrelia. Strains of this species have been isolated from the soft tick Ornithodoros coriaceus and from mule deer.

Spiral bacteria, bacteria of spiral (helical) shape, form the third major morphological category of prokaryotes along with the rod-shaped bacilli and round cocci. Spiral bacteria can be subclassified by the number of twists per cell, cell thickness, cell flexibility, and motility. The two types of spiral cells are spirillum and spirochete, with spirillum being rigid with external flagella, and spirochetes being with internal flagella.

Borrelia mayonii is a Gram-negative, host-associated spirochete that is capable of causing Lyme disease. This organism can infect various vertebrate and invertebrate hosts such as humans and ticks, primarily Ixodes scapularis. Migratory songbirds play a role in the dispersal of the tick vector, Ixodes scapularis, across long distances, indirectly dispersing Borrelia mayonii as well.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Fleche, A.L.; Postic, D.; Girardet, K.; Peter, O.; Baranton, G. (1997). "Characterization of Borrelia lusitaniae sp. nov. by 16S Ribosomal DNA Sequence Analysis". International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology. 47 (4): 921–925. doi: 10.1099/00207713-47-4-921 . ISSN   0020-7713. PMID   9336887.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Vitorino, L. L.; Margos, G.; Feil, E.; Collares-Pereira, M.; Ze-Ze, L. (2008). "Fine-Scale Phylogeographic Structure of Borrelia lusitaniae Revealed by Multilocus Sequence Typing". PLOS ONE. 3 (12): 1–13. Bibcode:2008PLoSO...3.4002V. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0004002 . PMC   2602731 . PMID   19104655.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Collares-Pereira, M.; Couceiro, S.; Franca, I.; Kurtenbach, K.; Schafer, S. M.; Vitorino, L.; Goncalves, L.; Baptista, S.; Vieira, M. L.; Cunha, C. (2004). "First Isolation of Borrelia lusitaniae from a Human Patient". Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 42 (3): 1316–1318. doi:10.1128/JCM.42.3.1316-1318.2004. ISSN   0095-1137. PMC   356816 . PMID   15004107.
  4. ↑ da Franca I, Santos L, Mesquita T, et al. (June 2005). "Lyme borreliosis in Portugal caused by Borrelia lusitaniae? Clinical report on the first patient with a positive skin isolate". Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift . 117 (11–12): 429–32. doi:10.1007/s00508-005-0386-z. PMID   16053200. S2CID   9870590.
  5. ↑ Lopes de Carvalho, I.; Fonseca, J. E.; Marques, J. G.; Ullmann, A.; Hojgaard, A.; Zeidner, N.; Núncio, M. S. (2008). "Vasculitis-like syndrome associated with Borrelia lusitaniae infection". Clinical Rheumatology. 27 (12): 1587–1591. doi:10.1007/s10067-008-1012-z. ISSN   0770-3198. PMID   18795392. S2CID   2329665.
  6. 1 2 Richter, D.; Matuschka, F. (2006). "Perpetuation of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia lusitaniae by Lizards". Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 72 (7): 4627–4632. Bibcode:2006ApEnM..72.4627R. doi:10.1128/aem.00285-06. ISSN   0099-2240. PMC   1489336 . PMID   16820453.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Younsi, H. L.; Sarih, M.; Jouda, F.; Godfroid, E.; Gern, L.; Bouattour, A.; Baranton, G.; Postic, D. (2005). "Characterization of Borrelia lusitaniae Isolates Collected in Tunisia and Morocco". Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 43 (4): 1587–1593. doi:10.1128/jcm.43.4.1587-1593.2005. PMC   1081310 . PMID   15814970.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Vitorino, L. L.; Margos, G.; Zé-Zé, L.; Kurtenbach, K.; Collares-Pereira n, M. (2010). "Plasmid profile analysis of Portuguese Borrelia lusitaniae strains". Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases. 1 (3): 125–126. doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2010.07.001. PMID   21771519.

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