A Lyme borreliosis cycle in seabirds and Ixodes uriae ticks
Article Abstract:
Ixodes uridae ticks were collected from razorbill and guillemot birds found on the island of Bonden near the Swedish mainland. Microscopic analysis of the body content of the ticks showed the presence of Borrelia-like spirochaetes. Further analyses of protein profiles and sequences of marker DNAs showed that the spirochaetes are identical to Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., the causative agent of Lyme disease. These results demonstrate that birds may play an important role in the maintenance and dissemination of B. burgdorferi.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1993
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Reactivation of Borrelia infection in birds
Article Abstract:
Migratory birds could be efficient long-distance carriers of Borrelia burgdorgeri sensu lato, the spirochaete that causes Lyme disease. It has been established that migratory birds are capable of carrying Lyme disease as a latent infection for a number of months. This infection can be reactivated and passed on to ticks as a result of migratory restlessness. Ticks along a migration route can feed on migrants with reactivated infections and become infected themselves. The disease is then transferred to other organisms.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 2000
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The Lyme disease agent exploits a tick protein to infect the mammalian host
Article Abstract:
A demonstration that Borrelia burgdorferi usurps a tick salivary protein, Salp15, to facilitate the infection of mice is presented. The level of salp15 expression was selectively enhanced by the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Ixodes scapularis, first indicating that spirochaetes might use Salp15 during transmission.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 2005
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