Students' Research Circle    
 
 
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
Call for papers
The conference
» Veterinary Session
Veterinary Jury
Sponsors
Awards-list
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
Home » Archive » 2015 » Veterinary Session

Veterinary session

Epidemiology of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Borrelia miyamotoi in small mammals and ticks in Gemenc
Krizsán Boglárka - year 6
SzIU, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Zoology and Parasitology
Supervisor: Gábor Földvári DVM

Abstract:

Rodent species are common in Hungary like in other parts of Europe. These small mammals are important hosts of ticks so they are playing a relevant role in spreading tick-borne pathogenes. Previous studies already proved the reservoir role of some rodent species in case of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s. l.) and Borrelia miyamotoi bacteria. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of this two causative agents from small mammals and their ticks in Gemenc and from field-collected ticks.

Six rodent species were trapped: striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius), yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis), bank vole (Myodes glareolus), common vole (Microtus arvalis), Eurasian harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) and house mouse (Mus musculus). After their euthanasia we took skin and spleen samples from them and collected the ticks that we found on them. These ticks belonged to Ixodes ricinus, I. acuminatus, Dermacentor marginatus and Haemaphysalis concinna species. Ticks were collected from the vegetation with flagging as well, we found I. ricinus, D. marginatus, D. reticulatus and H. concinna individuals among them.

After DNA extraction we used PCR (polymerase chain reaction) examination to determine whether tissue or tick samples are infected with any pathogens. Twenty-three out of 348 tested skin samples were B. burgdorferi s. l.-positive (bank vole, striped field and yellow-necked mouse) and one was B. miyamotoi-positive (yellow-necked mouse). We found B. burgdorferi s. l. in four out of 177 tested spleen samples (striped field and yellow-necked mouse) and B. miyamotoi in one case (yellow-necked mouse). Borrelia burgdorferi s. l. was detected in 12 out of 181 engorged ticks (D. marginatus, I. ricinus, I. acuminatus) and B. miyamotoi in two engorged I. ricinus. 162 out of the questing ticks were tested and we found causative agents just in I. ricinus ticks: B. burgdorferi s. l. in eight cases and B. miyamotoi in one. Our positive samples were sequenced in the Netherlands. This examination showed that B. afzelii and B. lusitaniae species were the causative agents in the B. burgdorferi s. l. infections in our samples.

To the best of our knowledge our study provides the first evidence for the presence of B. miyamotoi infection in a wild yellow-necked mouse population and in Hungary.



List of lectures