Publication details
Molecular and serological detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in small free-living mammals
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2024 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | XXVI. KONFERENCE MLADÝCH VĚDECKÝCH PRACOVNÍKŮ S MEZINÁRODNÍ ÚČASTÍ |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | https://fvhe.vetuni.cz/files/upload/733/KMVP%202024_Sbornik.pdf |
| Keywords | B. burgdorferi s.l.; small mammals; Apodemus sylvaticus; PCR |
| Description | Free living mammals serve as reservoir animals for the spirochetes Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. from which the infection can be transmitted through blood sucking insects to other hosts, in which a disease called Lyme disease can occur. The presence of B. burgdorferi s.l. was determined in 170 small mammals caught in the wild according to the approved experimental project. During the autopsy, tissue samples (heart rinses and kidneys) were taken for antibody detection by the ELISA method and for direct detection of B. burgdorferi s.l. by PCR. The species of the animal was determined by using a morphological key, if there was doubt about the distinction between Apodemus flavicollis and Apodemus sylvat icus, AP PCR was used. The prevalence of antibodies against B. burgdorferi s.l. was 10.5% (18/170) for IgM and 10% (17/170) for IgG without statistically significant difference (p>0.05) between the species, age, sex of animals and year season. The presence of B. burgdorferi s.l. was detected by PCR in 14.7% (25/170) of animals. No statistical significance was found in species, age and sex (p>0.05). The positivity statistically significantly differed in the seasons (p=0.021) with the highest positivity in sp ring and lowest positivity in autumn. We expected both antibody and Bbsl prevalence results around the landfill to be higher than in other areas due to the high presence of rodents in a small area, but the results are consistent with findings from other areas, so landfills are not more dangerous and there is no higher risk of Bbsl spreading. than in, for example, a forest park. |
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