First detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato DNA in wild boars

• Autor(a) principal: Faria, Ana Sofia
• Data de Publicação: 2018
• Outros Autores: Paiva-Cardoso, Maria da Neves, Nunes, Mónica, Carreira, Teresa, Vale-Gonçalves, Hélia Marisa, Veloso, Octávia, Coelho, Catarina, Cabral, João Alexandre, Vieira-Pinto, Madalena, Vieira, Maria Luísa
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: https://doi.org/10.25761/anaisihmt.142

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most common tick-borne zoonosis in northern hemisphere, but in Portugal, despite being a notifiable disease it remains under-diagnosed and reported. This emerging disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex spirochetes, transmitted through the bite of infected Ixodes genus ticks, particularly I. ricinus, the main vector in Europe. Several vertebrates serve as hosts for ticks, including large hunting species like wild boars, with great economic value for hunting and food sectors in the Trás-os-Montes region, whose role in the epidemiological cycle of LB remains undetermined. Sera from 90 wild boars shot in the Trás-os-Montes region (hunting season 2011/12) were collected and tested by nested-PCR. Borrelia DNA was detected for the first time in three sera, and sequencing results showed 100% similarity with B. afzelii, usually associated with small mammals (rodents, etc.). The results suggest that wild boars are a potential reservoir for this spirochete and its circulation in this region represents an infection risk for hunting- related occupational groups (hunters, gamekeepers, etc.) and hunting dogs, due to recurrent contact with tick-infested animals and vegetation. This work emphasizes the growing need for a "One Health" approach when it comes to emerging zoonotic disease control and prevention strategies, namely in LB.